Jane Fonda escaped her fifth arrest on Friday as hundreds of protesters joined together on Capitol Hill to fight the climate crisis on Friday.
In front of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., 81-year-old Fonda led the group of energized activists in protest songs while she embraced anti-war activist, Jodie Evans, the co-founder of women’s grassroots organization Code Pink.
Wearing her signature bright red coat- which she said is the last article of clothing she will buy in an effort to be sustainable – she rallied the troops around a message of urgency.
Jane Fonda (pictured) led climate crisis activist in protests on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Friday
She said: ‘We cannot leave it to young people to fight this fight for their future by themselves.’
Fonda highlighted the,’urgency of the climate crisis and need for activism on an unprecedented scale.’
The celebrity advocate has been the face of her ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ for more than a month and has subsequently been arrested four times.
The weekly event was inspired by the work of 16-year-old eco-warrior Greta Thunberg, who has been credited with revitalizing environmental activism in younger generations.
Fonda’s ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ were inspired by 16-year-old environmentalist Greta Thunberg, who has revitalized the protests on climate change
Fonda (pictured): ‘We cannot leave it to young people to fight this fight for their future by themselves’
In a statement, Fonda said: ‘I’ve moved to Washington, D.C. to be closer to the epicenter of the fight for our climate. Every Friday through January, I will be leading weekly demonstrations on Capitol Hill to demand that action by our political leaders be taken to address the climate emergency we are in. We can’t afford to wait.’
The Guardian reports that this week’s ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ focus was on the negative effects that war and the military have on the global environment.
The US military reportedly emits more carbon dioxide than many industrialized nations, including Morocco, Sweden and New Zealand.
Pictured: Fonda holding a ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ protest poster while marching in Washington, D.C. on Friday
‘I started in the streets with Jane in 1970, 49 years ago. And I’ve never ever seen her lose her passion or energy,’ Evans said.
‘Nobody works like Jane. She does put her body on the line and she is not afraid to be uncomfortable.’
Staying true to Evans’ words, Fonda unapologetic when she took aim at the fossil fuel industry.
‘If we don’t create and demand a more equitable, fair, democratic, future then what are we talking about?’ she said.
‘Why would people support investing from fossil fuel unless there was something in it for them. So this has to be holistic and fair.’
On Twitter, she wrote: ‘We need the fossil fuel industry to leave $11 million in “stranded assets” in the ground. The workers in the fossil fuel industry are not “stranded assets.” We need good union jobs and a just and equitable transition.’
Ben & Jerry co-founders, Ben Cohen (left) and Jerry Greenfield (right), attended the rally in support of environmental rights
In addition to Evans, Ben & Jerry’s co-founders joined the climate change rally and spoke to the crowd.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield praised Fonda’s direction and her willingness, ‘to put her body on the line.’
Cohen said: ‘You know, the absurdity of spending over 50 percent of our nation’s discretionary budget on the Pentagon while the major threat to our country is the climate crisis..is just kind of unbelievable.’
‘The amount of money spent on the Pentagon, over $700 billion a year, is unfathomable. But if it was used to for things that really helped, instead of wars that have the effect of creating more terrorists, we could go a long way in improving what is really on national security.’
‘Our national security is a decent environment.’
The ice cream giants have long been environmentalists and at one point sold a ‘Save Our Swirled’ flavor in support of global ecological awareness campaign.
Cohen: ‘You know, the absurdity of spending over 50 percent of our nation’s discretionary budget on the Pentagon..is just kind of unbelievable’
As Fonda’s ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ protesters took to the streets, they soon crossed paths with and joined advocates fighting for DACA Dreamers, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Those two groups were soon merged with an ‘Impeach Trump’ march and Vietnam War veterans were also reportedly in the mix.
All four contingents genially cheered with and for one another this afternoon.
Pictured: Protesters from various groups, including a’Impeach Trump’ and supporter of DACA Dreamers, rallied together with Fonda’s group
However, not everyone was impressed by Fonda’s outspoken stance.
A conservative counter-protester group walked alongside the climate protesters and heckled Fonda, shouting, ‘four more years, Hanoi Jane!’
‘Hanoi Jane’ is nickname Fonda earned in the 1970s where she protested the Vietnam War and was photographed on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.
Around this time Fonda would usually be seized by local authorities, but she reportedly skirted arrest and left in a waiting SUV.
TMZ reports that Fonda avoided another strike on her record at the request of protest organizers, lest she spend more than a month in jail.
Fonda is currently scheduled to appear in court this month over her previous arrests, one of which landed her a night in jail.
She told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I have to be careful not to get to a point where they’re going to keep me for 90 days because I have to begin preparing forin January.’
‘So I’m not going to get arrested every time. They give you three warnings and so I will step away at the third warning.’
It’s believed that organizers find Fonda more valuable protesting than facing repercussions behind bars.