AssetID: 55776434
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Jane Fonda calls on entertainment industry leaders to defend 'right to free expression'
Caption: Jane Fonda calls on entertainment industry leaders to defend 'right to free expression’. The Oscar-winning actress took to the stage at the Rise Up, Sing Out concert held at The Town Hall in New York City on Sunday night. The concert was organised by members of the Committee for the First Amendment. Addressing the crowd, Fonda claimed U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are "routinely violating" the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution "to silence artists”. "Shuttering institutions like the Kennedy Center, defunding museums and the National Endowment of the Arts, and banning books, cancelling TV hosts who speak out.” ”It's really bad. And it's being allowed by cowardly corporations. I'm not gonna name names right now. But I am honoured now to pass the mic to artists and activists who continue to speak up and sing out so that we might be inspired to rise up. Showing up is an act of hope, and you all give me hope.” Fonda went on to argue that it doesn't matter whether someone sides with the Democratic or Republican party. ”Those rights are for everyone, everyone. And we must defend them for everyone. Even if we don't agree with them," the 88-year-old continued. ”It's about right or wrong. And it is wrong. It is wrong for people to be attacked and called terrorists for exercising their rights and freedoms.” “It's time for Americans all across the country, all across the political spectrum, who care about these freedoms, to stand up, creatively, non-violently, to defend these rights, while we can. And we must do this now. Because if we don't, we're not gonna have any rights to descend." Earlier in her speech, Fonda also explained how the new Committee for the First Amendment was inspired by the original organisation, formed in 1947 by actors including her father, Henry Fonda, as well as the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Jane Fonda,calls on,entertainment,industry,leader,defend,right to free expression,speech,passionate,actress,icon,Rise Up Sing out concert,against,Donald Trump,founded,father,Henry Fona,Lauren Bacall
PersonInImage: