Jane Fonda rings in 82nd birthday with 5th arrest at climate change protest
Happy birthday to Jane Fonda – in jail?
The Oscar winner, who turns 82 on Saturday, was arrested for a fifth time in Washington, D.C. Friday as part of her ongoing climate change march.
Prior to her arrest, she gave a speech in front of a sign that read, 'Happy 82nd birthday, Jane!'
Fonda has been protesting weekly during her Fire Drill Fridays since announcing she was moving to Washington "to be closer to the epicenter of the fight for our climate." Her participation has ended in multiple arrests.
Fire Drill Fridays reports the "Grace & Frankie" star was arrested alongside several other protesters Friday. Of the 138 arrested, two were kept overnight, Fonda's rep Ira Arlook told USA TODAY, adding Fonda was released later that night.
The group sang 'Happy birthday' to Fonda as she was led away in handcuffs.
.@Janefonda was just arrested for the 5th time demanding #NoNewFossilFuels and a #GreenNewDeal with #FireDrillFriday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xZfMPWhWQQ
— Fire Drill Fridays (@FireDrillFriday) December 20, 2019
"For @Janefonda’s birthday she wanted 82 people to put their bodies on the line. Today at least 138 people were arrested demanding a #GreenNewDeal and #NoNewFossilFuels with #FireDrillFriday," the organization tweeted.
Representatives for Fonda did not immediately respond to USA TODAY on whether or not Fonda has posted bail.
Friday's march was another celebrity-studded affair. Rosanna Arquette, Gloria Steinem and Casey Willson were arrested at the protest, too.
Thank you @GloriaSteinem, @caseyrosewilson, @RoArquette, and @MattMcGorry for committing civil disobedience at the US Senate with #FireDrillFriday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1KE1Vr4x91
— Fire Drill Fridays (@FireDrillFriday) December 20, 2019
Notable celebrities arrested at Fonda's previous protests include Sally Field, Sam Waterston, Ted Danson, Diane Lane, Piper Perabo, Rosanna Arquette and 11-year-old actor Iain Armitage.
"I never would have expected my life to get so much fuller and, in some ways, more meaningful as I moved into my 8th decade," Fonda wrote on her blog Tuesday. "But I’ve heeded the call of Greta Thunberg, who was just named Time’s person of the year, left my comfort zone, and moved to DC to carry out weekly climate actions called Fire Drill Fridays. When I started, I didn’t know if the actions and the teach-ins that precede them would gain traction. It’s clear to me now that they have."
Fonda also gave an impassioned speech at the National Press Club this week about the "climate emergency," begging for "people to think about how they can ratchet up their activism on climate."
The actress also discussed the "stranglehold the fossil fuel industry has on our political process."
"This year saw atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases hit the highest level ever recorded in human history," she said. "While our window of opportunity to do something is quickly closing, fossil fuel companies are frantically expanding new drilling, mining, fracking and exporting."
Fonda continued: "The fossil fuel industry has controlled the U.S. government and too many other governments for far too long. This is the last possible moment in history when changing course can mean saving lives and species on an unimaginable scale."
Fonda wrote on her blog she will make a "bittersweet" return to California on Jan. 11 to prepare for the 7th and final season of “Grace & Frankie."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jane Fonda arrested on eve of 82nd birthday at climate change protest