The First Amendment Committee, an activist group of artists and cultural leaders founded by Jane Fonda, is hosting Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment with a star-studded lineup in New York City.
The event — scheduled for June 14, Flag Day — will include live performances and appearances by Fonda, Bette Midler, Joy Reid, Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, Sasha Allen, and the inspiring voices of Broadway for 90 minutes.
“Music has always been a tool for standing up to tyranny, and I am honored to spend the evening with such committed, talented and wonderful people celebrating our First Amendment rights,” Fonda said in a statement. “As we continue to watch ill-intentioned leaders seize more and more power, it is critical that we come together, collectively raise our voices, and stand united against this administration — and have some fun while doing it.”
The event will be streamed online for free, with national partner organizations and local civic groups hosting watch parties across the country. For those looking to attend in person, tickets start at $49 and can be purchased from Ticketmaster or through the concert’s website. All proceeds from the concert will go to support the work of the First Amendment Committee.
“Music has always been the language of resistance,” Wainwright said of the event. “When this administration comes for our freedoms, music is the way we remember who we are and what we are fighting for.” “Rise and sing is what this moment demands. So let’s come together, raise our voices and remind them exactly who this country belongs to.”
The First Amendment Committee is a group of artists and storytellers standing together to defend free speech against government oppression and industry complicity, which was launched in October with a statement from Fonda and more than 550 supporters from across Hollywood. The commission draws inspiration from the original First Amendment Commission, when artists such as Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jane’s father, Henry Fonda, stood up to government attacks during the McCarthy era.
