About the Committee for the First Amendment

The Committee for the First Amendment is a large collective of artists, storytellers, and cultural leaders standing together to defend free expression against government repression, industry complicity, and intimidation. The Committee was publicly announced on October 1, 2025 with a statement from Jane Fonda and more than 550 supporters from across the entertainment industry. The statement was a declaration of the signees' shared desire to act in the face of encroaching authoritarianism and served as a signal to the world that members of the industry are ready to mobilize when their colleagues and freedoms are under attack.

The Committee draws inspiration from the original Committee for the First Amendment, when artists like Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jane's father Henry Fonda stood up to government attacks during the darkness of the McCarthy era. Today, the Committee continues in that spirit: preparing for what's coming, resisting with non-cooperation—but always non-violence—when necessary, and ensuring our collective voice is loud and purposeful in these dangerous times.