Hundreds of celebrities relaunch a McCarthy-era committee to defend free speech

"On Wednesday, over 550 celebrities relaunched a group first organized during the post-World War II Red Scare: the Committee for the First Amendment. Their intent is to stand up in what they call a "defense of our constitutional rights," adding: "The federal government is once again engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in the government, the media, the judiciary, academia, and the entertainment industry.""

""This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs. They targeted elected officials, government employees, academics, and artists. They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned. The McCarthy Era ended when Americans from across the political spectrum finally came together and stood up for the principles in the Constitution against the forces of repression.""

"The current group is headlined by actor and activist Jane Fonda whose father, actor Henry Fonda, was one of the early members of the first Committee for the First Amendment, which was founded in the 1940s to oppose the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee, through which the federal government accused many top entertainers of being communists or communist sympathizers and derailed their careers."

Over 550 celebrities relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, originally organized during the post-World War II Red Scare. The group says it aims to defend constitutional rights and alleges the federal government is engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in government, media, judiciary, academia, and entertainment. The relaunch is headlined by Jane Fonda, whose father Henry Fonda was an early member of the original committee. Members include Spike Lee, Barry Jenkins, J.J. Abrams, Patty Jenkins, Aaron Sorkin, Judd Apatow, Quinta Brunson, Barbra Streisand, John Legend, Janelle Monae, Billie Eilish, Tiffany Haddish, Nikki Glaser, Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, Pedro Pascal, Natalie Portman, Viola Davis, Ben Stiller, and Fran Drescher. Fran Drescher recently ended a term as president of SAG-AFTRA. The letter invoked the McCarthy Era, noting repression, blacklisting, harassment, and imprisonment of political dissenters.

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