Jane Fonda returns to civil disobedience for climate change

Inspired by the climate activism of a Swedish teenager, Jane Fonda says she's returning to civil disobedience nearly a half-century after she was last arrested at a protest.

Fonda, known for her opposition to the Vietnam War, was one of 17 climate protesters arrested Friday at the US Capitol on charges of unlawful demonstration by what she called "extremely nice and professional" police.

Fellow actor Sam Waterston was also in the group, which included many older demonstrators.

Now 81, Fonda said she plans to get arrested every Friday to advocate for urgent reduction in the use of fossil fuels. She hopes to encourage other older people to protest as well.

Getting arrested in 2019, poses some entirely new challenges, Fonda told The Associated Press in an interview.

These days, "they use white plastic things on your wrists instead of metal handcuffs, and that hurts more," she said.

"The only problem for me is I'm old," Fonda said.

After her first arrest last week, she had trouble getting into the police vehicle because she was handcuffed behind her back and "had nothing to hang on to."
"We're trying to encourage people to become more active, across the age spectrum."
Asked how she would answer any young climate activist who complained of being co-opted, Fonda said, "I would hug them."