Actress and environmental activist Jane Fonda addressed an overseas audience during a Democrats Abroad campaign event, urging Democratic voters abroad to vote against former President Donald Trump. Fonda warned that if Trump is re-elected, he will jail anyone who protests his policies and will make their lives miserable. Democrats Abroad is the official arm of the Democratic Party for American citizens living overseas, working to register them to vote and keep them informed about key policy issues during election cycles. Hollywood stars and elected officials spoke at the campaign event, encouraging voters to support the Harris-Walz ticket and expressing concerns about the direction Trump would take the country.
During the campaign event, Fonda criticized Trump, referring to him as the “Orange Man” and warning that his policies would be detrimental to democracy and the environment. Other speakers at the event, including Nancy Pelosi and Eric Holder, also expressed their concerns about the current administration and emphasized the importance of this election cycle. Pelosi highlighted the events of January 6, 2021, when supporters of Trump breached the U.S. Capitol, and emphasized the need to protect democracy. Holder pointed out the unsettling tactics used by the Trump campaign, such as gerrymandering, voter suppression, and intimidation, and urged viewers to consider the implications of Trump’s statements and policies.
Fonda and other speakers emphasized the urgency of voting in the upcoming election, particularly for Americans living abroad. The group held a virtual campaign event on Zoom, where Hollywood elites and elected officials shared their reasons for supporting the Harris-Walz ticket. The speakers encouraged viewers to snub Trump at the ballot box and stressed the critical nature of the election, particularly in terms of addressing the climate crisis and safeguarding democracy. Fonda’s remarks focused on the need for a strong democracy and the potential consequences of another four years of inaction on climate change.
Holder, who joined the Harris campaign earlier this year to lead the vetting process for potential running mates, highlighted the importance of September for American voters abroad. Federal law requires absentee ballots to be sent to members of the military and voters overseas 45 days before the election, with ballots being sent out by September 21 during this election cycle. The speakers at the campaign event emphasized that the Harris-Walz ticket represents the best chance to defeat Trump and encourage voters to support the Democratic ticket. The group aims to mobilize American citizens living overseas to vote in the upcoming election and have their voices heard in shaping the future of the country.
The campaign event provided a platform for Hollywood stars, elected officials, and activists to express their support for the Democratic ticket and critique the policies and actions of the Trump administration. Fonda’s warning about Trump’s potential to jail protesters and make their lives miserable underscored the perceived threat that a second Trump administration poses to democracy and civil liberties. Through virtual events and outreach efforts, Democrats Abroad seeks to engage American citizens living overseas in the democratic process and motivate them to participate in the upcoming election. The speakers’ messages emphasized the importance of voting in the 2024 election to address pressing issues such as the climate crisis and safeguard democracy.
