Jane Fonda will lead a music and activism event titled “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment” in New York City on June 14 [1].
The event seeks to defend free speech and use music as a tool against authoritarianism. By reviving the original Committee for the First Amendment, which was founded in 1947 [4], the organizers aim to mobilize artists and the public to protect constitutional liberties.
Fonda will be joined by a diverse lineup of performers and public figures. The roster includes musicians Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, and Bette Midler [1, 2]. Other participants listed for the event include Joy Reid, Julia Roberts, Lily Gladstone, Wilson Cruz, Sasha Allen, and Peppermint, as well as the Broadway Inspirational Voices [2, 3].
To expand the reach of the message beyond the New York City venue, the Committee for the First Amendment has organized more than 5,000 nationwide livestream viewing parties [4]. This scale is intended to create a coordinated national effort to celebrate the First Amendment through performance.
Fonda has urged participating artists to remain politically active. “Music has long been a tool to stand up to authoritarianism, and I am honored to spend the …” Fonda said [1].
The actress-activist has also called for a shift from passive observation to active participation in the defense of civil liberties. “Be upstanders, not bystanders,” Fonda said [5].
““Be upstanders, not bystanders.””
The revival of the Committee for the First Amendment suggests a strategic attempt to link modern free-speech advocacy with historical precedents from the post-WWII era. By combining a high-profile celebrity lineup with a decentralized network of thousands of viewing parties, the organizers are attempting to transform a traditional concert into a scalable political movement.
