John — I recently spoke about my 2019 stint in jail on the podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, hosted by Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson. It was an experience that I’ll never forget.

Before I tell you the story, can I ask for a favor? Would you be willing to chip in a few dollars today to support the Jane Fonda Climate PAC? Your contribution will help us continue the fight for climate justice and support candidates who are committed to combatting the climate crisis: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jane-bax-email

Picture this: It’s my 82nd birthday. I’m in a Washington, D.C. jail cell, having just been arrested for the fifth time — this time for protesting the government’s inaction on addressing the climate crisis.

It was me, some cockroaches, and my red coat, which also served that night as my pillow and my blanket. As I lay there, I reflected on the stark disparities in our society. Listen, I’m white and famous. I knew someone was coming to pick me up the next day. I was keenly aware that my treatment was far better than many of the women around me.

The jail was filled with the sounds of anguish, with screams and shouts echoing down the halls. Many of those women needed mental health care, not incarceration.

But even with my privilege, I felt a sense of liberation in aligning my body with my deepest values through civil disobedience.

Civil disobedience is more than just a protest. It's putting your entire self on the line for what you believe in. It’s a way to draw attention to the urgent issues we face and demand change. For me, that night in jail wasn’t just about protesting the climate crisis; it was about showing solidarity with those who are most affected by climate injustice.

The communities being impacted most by climate disasters aren’t the wealthy, majority-white neighborhoods in Beverly Hills or Manhattan. It’s the folks in Louisiana along the Gulf Coast in “Cancer Alley.” These are what the fossil fuel industry calls “sacrifice zones” — people of color, communities below the poverty line, people who depend on shrimping and fishing for their livelihoods. Their businesses and their lives are being destroyed by the fossil fuel industry while their economic circumstances leave little room for escape.

I realized that as a woman with privilege and a platform, I had to do more to help empower and uplift the voices of these communities. As much as my protesting, marching, and civil disobedience helped further our cause, I knew I had to come to terms with the fact that nothing was going to change at the scale we need if we didn’t change the people in power.

That’s where JanePAC comes in. Our mission is to elect candidates at every level of government who understand the urgency of the climate crisis and are willing to back bold climate solutions. We channel the spirit of protest into electoral power, ensuring that our voices are heard where it can make a meaningful impact — in the halls of government.

This year’s election cycle could be our last chance to secure a livable, sustainable future, and we can’t do it alone. We need your support to continue this fight.

So, I’m humbly asking you to join me. Donate to my climate PAC today, join a climate protest, educate others about what’s at stake, and vote for candidates who will fight for climate justice. Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jane Fonda

P.S. If you want to hear the full podcast, you can listen here.