Jane Fonda and Joan Baez joined roughly 100 artists outside the Kennedy Center to denounce what they called growing censorship and political intimidation under the Trump administration. The protest, titled “Artists United for Our Freedom,” featured speeches from Fonda, 88, and Baez, 85, along with performances by Maggie Rogers and appearances by Sam Waterston and Rupi Kaur.

Fonda, who helped relaunch the Committee for the First Amendment last fall, warned of efforts to reshape American history through fear and attacks on First Amendment rights. She cited book bans and removal of historical monuments as evidence of a broader cultural crackdown. The White House dismissed the demonstration, with spokesman Davis Ingle stating that “No one cares what Jane Fonda has to say” while defending Trump’s Kennedy Center overhaul.

The protest comes amid turmoil at the Kennedy Center, where Richard Grenell recently departed after a year of controversy over programming changes and staff departures. This week, cultural groups filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s authority to close the center for renovations. Former employees attended Friday’s protest as Fonda noted the institution’s transformation from “beloved citadel of the arts” to a symbol of cultural suppression.