Actress and activist Jane Fonda announced a benefit concert titled “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment” to defend free expression.
The initiative comes as Fonda warns of increasing attacks on the First Amendment, specifically citing the rise of book bans and reductions in arts funding. By mobilizing the creative community, Fonda seeks to transform artistic visibility into a political shield against censorship.
Fonda, the founder of the Committee for the First Amendment, said that artists must speak out before it is too late [3]. She said that now is the time for people to not just sit and complain [1]. The upcoming event is scheduled for June 14, 2024 [2], and will take place in New York City [2].
This effort marks a significant revival of the Committee for the First Amendment, an organization that was formed nearly 80 years ago [3]. Fonda said that music has long been a tool to stand up to authoritarianism and that she is honored to spend her time supporting the cause [4].
The concert aims to unite a diverse array of performers to highlight the fragility of free speech in the current political climate. The event serves as a call to action for the arts community to move beyond passive observation, and engage in active defense of constitutional rights.
While the primary focus is the New York City concert, Fonda has also been active in other regional efforts. Reports indicate she led a separate First Amendment rally near the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. [3]. These combined efforts reflect a broader strategy to pressure policymakers by leveraging the cultural influence of high-profile artists.
““Now is the time for us to not just sit and complain,””
Fonda's reboot of the Committee for the First Amendment signals a shift toward using celebrity-led cultural events as a primary tool for constitutional advocacy. By linking book bans and arts funding to the broader concept of authoritarianism, the movement attempts to frame these specific policy issues as existential threats to American civil liberties.
