January 10, 2020
82-year-old-actress, Jane Fonda stood in front of hundreds of protesters on the Capitol’s southeast lawn and called out for fast action on a Green New Deal in Washington, D.C.
Fonda has been holding her weekly climate change protests called “Fire Drill Fridays” for several months now, and this Friday, she was joined by Joaquin Phoenix, Martin Sheen, and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Golden-Globe winner Joaquin Phoenix marched with Jane in D.C. along with fellow protesters. This week’s protest specifically addressed an end to all new fossil fuel exploration/extraction and demanded a halt on granting taxpayer subsidies to oil companies. Joaquin and Martin Sheen were detained after cops warned the protesters that arrests are imminent if they did not cooperate and disperse.
Before his detainment, Phoenix took the podium to urge others to go vegan and the effects that the meat and dairy industries have on the environment. “Something that I think isn’t often times talked about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change” he stated.
Actor, Martin Sheen has been arrested 70 times for his protesting efforts. Inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg’s weekly protests, Fonda has led the weekly demonstrations at the Capitol since October. Called Fire Drill Fridays, are often celebrity packed protests including stars; Sally Field, Ted Danson, Lily Tomlin and Rosanna Arquette, among the many who have supported Fonda’s past protests.
Fonda’s original plan was to get arrested on 14 consecutive Fridays, though she later reconsidered after spending a rough night in jail in her infamous red protest coat. Fonda has already been arrested 5 times and has been warned that she could face up to 90 days in jail should she be arrested again.
The actress will be returning to California, where she will continue to host Fire Drill Friday each month, starting with a demonstration on February 7th in Los Angeles.
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