Hi everyone,

I hope you are doing well and having a great holiday season so far. I just wanted to take some time to tell you all how grateful I am for all of your kind birthday wishes and your generous support for the work we do at my Climate PAC.

I’d especially like to thank my friend Shepard Fairey for sharing his new piece with us. Shepard’s talent for capturing the spirit of social and political movements is unparalleled. And the way he’s transformed this impactful moment in my life into something so visually striking and emotionally resonant is truly remarkable.

Shepard, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for lending your extraordinary talent to celebrate this milestone in my life and for standing alongside me in the fight for a better, more just world. I know you will continue to use your art to inspire countless others in the way you’ve inspired me.

I know that circulating and celebrating a mugshot may seem odd to many people, so I thought I would take a moment to share a bit of the backstory behind this one.

Reflecting on my arrest in 1970, it's clear now how much it has shaped my identity as an activist. At that time, I was deeply involved in the anti-Vietnam War movement, traveling around the U.S. to speak about the war and, in particular, about the Winter Soldier Investigation that some of us were organizing together with Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

During a stop in Cleveland, I found myself embroiled in a situation that seemed almost surreal. I was accused of drug smuggling, but the charges were purely fabricated, a ploy to disrupt my activism. The arresting officer even admitted he was acting under orders from the Nixon White House.

What stands out in my memory is the sense of defiance I felt. Despite being handcuffed, I managed to raise my fist in a gesture of resistance, something I was able to do because of my double-jointed hands.

I spent a night in jail, but the absurdity of the charges became evident quickly. The supposed drugs were nothing more than vitamins. It was a clear case of political harassment, an attempt to silence my voice against the Vietnam War.

This incident only fueled my determination to fight for what I believed in, not to be cowed by those in power who sought to silence dissent​.

Decades later, I'm honored that this moment in my life can serve as an inspiration to artists like Shepard and activists like all of you to fight for what they believe in.

Thank you all so much once again.

I really enjoyed sharing this special day with you. Even though today is my birthday, it’s not too late for you to join in the celebration! You can share a message with me and support our work by purchasing some of our exclusive merchandise based on Shepard’s new illustration.

Thank you so much, and happy holidays!
Jane Fonda

PS - You can find our full selection of merchandise options at the link above in my message, or you can make a contribution of any amount here to receive one of our Act for Justice stickers.