“Today, books are being banned, plaques and monuments depicting historical events this administration wants to forget are being removed,” declared Jane Fonda at a rally held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 2026. This event, titled “Artists United for Our Freedoms,” was organized by Fonda’s Committee for the First Amendment, which aims to combat the rising tide of political censorship and book bans.
Fonda’s remarks resonated deeply with the approximately one hundred invited guests, including notable figures like Joan Baez and Sam Waterston. The rally served as a platform to criticize the Trump administration’s actions, particularly its defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts and public broadcasting.
“If we don’t fight back, the news we get will be increasingly fake,” Fonda warned, emphasizing the critical need for vigilance against censorship. Her concerns echoed a broader sentiment that the current political climate poses a significant threat to democracy.
Reflecting on her past experiences, Fonda recalled witnessing censorship in the Soviet Union during the 1970s, drawing parallels to the present situation in the United States. She expressed a sense of urgency, stating that the ongoing renovations at the Kennedy Center have been criticized as a form of silencing.
Joan Baez, who performed at the rally, echoed Fonda’s sentiments, stating, “I’m going to hang on to that glorious rainbow ribbon award and keep fighting like hell alongside of all of you until we restore our right to speak freely.” This commitment to free speech was a central theme of the event, which highlighted the importance of artists in the fight against censorship.
Sam Waterston also contributed to the discourse, asserting, “What’s happening here at the Kennedy Center is not a culture war sideshow.” His statement underscored the seriousness of the issues at hand and the need for collective action.
The rally not only focused on the immediate threats to free expression but also critiqued the media landscape under political pressure. Fonda’s Committee for the First Amendment, originally co-founded by her father, Henry Fonda, during the McCarthy era, was relaunched to address these contemporary challenges.
As the event concluded, the call to action was clear: the fight against censorship is ongoing, and the stakes are high. Fonda’s rally served as a reminder that the preservation of free speech is essential for a healthy democracy.
