A group of Hollywood figures gathered in New York City on Sunday evening for a concert to lament about how their free speech is being threatened by President Trump.
Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment
The event, organized by the Committee for the First Amendment and co-executive produced by Jane Fonda, combined music, speeches, and political activism during a two-and-a-half-hour program at Manhattan’s historic Town Hall.
Actor Robert De Niro opened the evening with a jab at a simultaneous White House UFC event, telling attendees: “Good evening, everyone, and welcome to all of you who couldn’t get tickets to the White House cage fights.” De Niro also stated, “I don’t love a country that’s led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant.” When referring to President Trump’s comments on Americans’ financial situations, De Niro said, “I say, ‘Shut the f**k up.’”
Jane Fonda struck a similar tone, accusing government officials of suppressing artistic and cultural institutions. “The government and its cronies are routinely violating the first amendment to silence artists, shuttering institutions like the Kennedy Center and defunding museums,” she said.
The event also highlighted Fonda’s long family connection to political advocacy. Her father, Henry Fonda, helped establish the original Committee for the First Amendment, which was formed to support the Hollywood Ten after they were blacklisted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1947 over alleged communist ties.
The evening featured performances from singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, musician-poet Patti Smith, and Bette Midler, who performed a modernized version of Woody Guthrie’s anti-fascist anthem.
Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.
