Jane Fonda blames ‘white men,’ ‘racism’ for climate change: ‘Arrest and jail’

Jane Fonda blames ‘white men,’ ‘racism’ for climate change: ‘Arrest and jail’

Jane Fonda issued a stark warning about climate change on Saturday while placing the blame on white men.

“We’ve got about seven, eight years to cut ourselves in half of what we use of fossil fuels, and unfortunately, the people that have the least responsibility for it are hit the hardest — Global South, people on islands, poor people of color,” the “Book Club: The Next Chapter” actress said at the Cannes Film Festival.

“It is a tragedy that we have to absolutely stop. We have to arrest and jail those men — they’re all men [behind this].”

The two-time Oscar winner added that climate change would not be possible without racism or the patriarchy, in which “white men,” she said, are at the top.

“It’s good for us all to realize, there would be no climate crisis if there was no racism. There would be no climate crisis if there was no patriarchy. A mindset that sees things in a hierarchical way,” she argued. “White men are the things that matter and then everything else [is] at the bottom.”


Jane Fonda in black gown at Cannes Film Festival
The “80 For Brady” star used her Cannes Film Festival speaking engagement to address climate change.TheImageDirect.com
Jane Fonda in zip tie handcuffs while wearing red jacket at protest
Fonda has been arrested on a number of occasions for protesting.Getty Images

The 85-year-old actress has made headlines for her activism since the Vietnam War, when critics branded her “Hanoi Jane” for posing on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun that made it seem like she would shoot down US planes.

Meanwhile, at Cannes, the “80 For Brady” star urged everyone to rally around environmental justice.

“It’s important because we have to get out of the silos — feminists over here, environmentalists over here. That’s what I learned when I started being an activist around the Vietnam War,” she said.

“The more you go down any issue, whatever it is, you realize that it’s all connected. And if we solve the climate crisis, and we haven’t solved those other things, we’re gonna be in trouble.”

This is not the first time Fonda — who has been arrested several times while participating in climate change protests — has connected climate change to social injustice.

In January, she said everything — such as “sexism, racism, misogyny, homophobia” and “the war” — is related.

“And if you really get into it, and study it and learn about it and the history of it and everything’s connected. There’d be no climate crisis if it wasn’t for racism,” she stated on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”


Jane Fonda protesting in DC
“It’s all hands on deck right now, it’s urgent, urgent and everyone has to join in right now,” Fonda told Page Six earlier this month.Getty Images

“Where would they put the poison and the pollution?” Fonda continued. “They’re not gonna put it in Bel Air. They’ve got to find some place where poor people or indigenous people or people of color are living. Put it there. They can’t fight back. And that’s why a big part of the climate movement now has to do with climate justice.”

Earlier this month, the “Grace and Frankie” actress called for “all hands on deck” as the climate emergency continues.

The social justice warrior told Page Six she didn’t understand “how you could not” protest.

“I have grandchildren,” she said at the premiere of “Book Club: The Next Chapter.” “I love animals, I love nature. We’re going to destroy it all if we don’t.”

“It’s all hands on deck right now, it’s urgent, urgent and everyone has to join in right now,” she added.