Stars Arrested While Protesting: Alyssa Milano, Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and More

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Stars Arrested While Protesting: Alyssa Milano, Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and More

Fight the power! Celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and Amy Schumer have proven they aren't afraid to stand side-by-side with protestors to advocate for the causes they're passionate about. These stars took things one step further by getting handcuffed on the front lines in the name of rectifying issues they believe in, such as Supreme Court nominations, climate change or better public school funding. Fonda made a huge commitment toward action for climate change by planning to protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. every Friday through January 2020. “It’ll be called ‘Fire Drill Friday.’ And we’re going to engage in civil disobedience and we’re going to get arrested every Friday,” she explained to The Washington Post in October 2019. Her dedication to the cause caused her to miss out on accepting the BAFTA's annual Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film on October 25. In a pre-recorded video shown at the awards show in Los Angeles, Fonda explained her absence. [jwplayer wujBGfrQ-zhNYySv2] “I’m sorry that I’m not there, but as you may have heard I’ve been getting arrested,” she said. “I decided that I needed to do more, so I moved to D.C. for four months and I’m trying to heighten the sense of urgency there needs to be. Anyway, that’s why I’m not with you tonight, but it’s for a good cause." The video ended with footage of Fonda getting arrested with fellow demonstrators. “Thank you BAFTA," Fonda yelled as cops led her away."BAFTA, thank you for the Stanley Kubrick award for excellence in film. I’m sorry I’m not there, I’m very honored.” Her unconventional speech received overwhelming applause and a standing ovation at the awards show. Fonda also recruited some famous faces to join her, including her Grace and Frankie costar Sam Waterson, Ted Danson, Catherine Kenner and Rosanna Arquette. Fonda isn't the first star to get handcuffed with a famous pal for a cause. Schumer and Emily Ratajkowski joined forces to protest against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh outside of the Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. in 2018. They were among more than 300 people arrested at the protest. Scroll down to see some celebrities who have been arrested for a cause. [podcast_block]

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Stars Arrested While Protesting: Alyssa Milano, Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and More

Fight the power! Celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and Amy Schumer have proven they aren't afraid to stand side-by-side with protestors to advocate for the causes they're passionate about. These stars took things one step further by getting handcuffed on the front lines in the name of rectifying issues they believe in, such as Supreme Court nominations, climate change or better public school funding. Fonda made a huge commitment toward action for climate change by planning to protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. every Friday through January 2020. “It’ll be called ‘Fire Drill Friday.’ And we’re going to engage in civil disobedience and we’re going to get arrested every Friday,” she explained to The Washington Post in October 2019. Her dedication to the cause caused her to miss out on accepting the BAFTA's annual Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film on October 25. In a pre-recorded video shown at the awards show in Los Angeles, Fonda explained her absence. [jwplayer wujBGfrQ-zhNYySv2] “I’m sorry that I’m not there, but as you may have heard I’ve been getting arrested,” she said. “I decided that I needed to do more, so I moved to D.C. for four months and I’m trying to heighten the sense of urgency there needs to be. Anyway, that’s why I’m not with you tonight, but it’s for a good cause." The video ended with footage of Fonda getting arrested with fellow demonstrators. “Thank you BAFTA," Fonda yelled as cops led her away."BAFTA, thank you for the Stanley Kubrick award for excellence in film. I’m sorry I’m not there, I’m very honored.” Her unconventional speech received overwhelming applause and a standing ovation at the awards show. Fonda also recruited some famous faces to join her, including her Grace and Frankie costar Sam Waterson, Ted Danson, Catherine Kenner and Rosanna Arquette. Fonda isn't the first star to get handcuffed with a famous pal for a cause. Schumer and Emily Ratajkowski joined forces to protest against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh outside of the Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. in 2018. They were among more than 300 people arrested at the protest. Scroll down to see some celebrities who have been arrested for a cause. [podcast_block]

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Busy Philipps

The Dawson’s Creek alum was taken into custody in June 2022 after protesting against Roe v. Wage being overturned outside of the Supreme Court. Philipps was arrested amid the pro-choice protest and later shared a message of fighting for women’s rights and the rights of all via her Instagram profile.

“I can think of no better way to use my privilege and voice than to amplify the message that bodily autonomy IS a human right, as it is ACTUALLY the exact same thing as the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must ensure that it applies to all of us,” she wrote after being released. “This is the fight of a lifetime, y’all. It’s not gonna be short, easy or without setbacks. But we must MUST MUST keep showing up and taking action.”

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Alyssa Milano

“I was just arrested for demanding the Biden Administration and the Senate to use their mandate to protect voting rights,” the Charmed alum tweeted in October 2021. “Stand with me and @peoplefor and tell the Senate and White House that voting rights shouldn’t depend on where you live. #DontMuteOurVote.”

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Porsha Williams

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, in July 2020, after protesting the death of Breonna Taylor. Williams was one of many people taken into custody amid the peaceful demonstration outside of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s home, as they called for justice for the EMT, who was fatally shot and killed by police in her home earlier in the year.

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Cole Sprouse

“A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica,” the Riverdale star revealed via Instagram in June 2020. “So before the voracious horde of media sensationalism decides to somehow turn it about me, there’s a clear need to speak about the circumstances: Black Lives Matter. Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement. ... I hope others in my position do as well. I noticed that there are cameras that roll within the police cruisers during the entirety of our detainment, hope it helps. I’ll speak no more on the subject, as I’m (1) not well versed enough to do so, (2) not the subject of the movement, and (3) uninterested in drawing attention away from the leaders of the #BLM movement. I will be, again, posting the link in my story to a comprehensive document for donations and support."

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Jaime King

“Currently arrested for a peaceful protest,” the actress tweeted in June 2020, after revealing she'd been handcuffed at a Los Angeles protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. "EVERYONE WAS PEACEFUL . ... Currently still on the bus for over 4 hours. Took us from 77th precinct to San Pedro. Women w/no access to vital meds, bathrooms, bleeding through their pants. They are laughing at us. #BlackLivesMattter.”

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Shaina Taub

"Last night my husband and I got arrested on the stoop of our building on the UWS just after 8 pm. We were cheering on a peaceful protest on our block. This was my small visceral window into the police brutality black folks have experienced for centuries,” the composer tweeted and shared a video of her arrest in June 2020. "A woman is arrested and is ‘manhandled.’ She is telling the arresting officer that the handcuffs are hurting her and he is enjoying telling her that they should hurt."

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Joaquin Phoenix

The Joker actor was arrested during one of Jane Fonda's climate protests in D.C. in January 2020. According to CNN, Phoenix called out the meat and dairy industries for their role in the climate crisis during his speech. "I struggle so much with what I can do at times. There are things that I can’t avoid. I flew a plane out here. ... But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits, and I just want to urge all of you to join me in that, and you as well, Jane," he said.

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Martin Sheen

The actor was handcuffed while participating in one of Jane Fonda's climate protests in D.C. in January 2020. (The pair have costarred on Netflix's Grace and Frankie since 2015.) "Let our country awake," he said during his speech about climate change.

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Lily Tomlin

The actress was arrested at her Grace & Frankie costar Fonda's climate change protest in Washington, D.C., in December 2019. “Our movement has been unbelievably successful. Already we’ve taken $11 trillion out of banks that are underwriting fossil fuel expansion,” Tomlin addressed the crowd in a speech that was captured on video. The star raised her hands in triumph as police led her away outside of the Capitol. 

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Jane Fonda

The actress vowed to fight climate change at the U.S. Capitol every Friday through January 2020 by protesting until she gets arrested.

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Sam Waterson

Fonda's Grace and Frankie costar was the first celebrity arrested with Fonda in October 2019.

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Ted Danson

The Good Place actor was all smiles as police authorities led him away from the protest in October 2019.

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Amy Schumer

In October 2018, the I Feel Pretty star was arrested for protesting Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination while holding a "We believe Anita Hill" sign and wearing a green top with the words, "This today, then #ERA" inscribed on the back. Before her arrest, she recorded a video for a fellow protestor's daughter, who posted the clip on Twitter. "Hi Zola, I'm here with your mom. She loves you very much," Schumer said in the clip. "I think we are going to get arrested and we're so proud of you." Schumer was charged a $50 fine for the misdemeanor offense. 

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Emily Ratajkowski

The model posted a photo of herself joining Schumer at the Kavanaugh protest in October 2018. In the pic, she proudly holds up a sign reading, "Respect Female Existence or Expect Our Resistance." "Today I was arrested protesting the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a man who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault. Men who hurt women can no longer be placed in positions of power," Ratajkowski, who was charged a $50 fine for the misdemeanor offense, captioned the photo.

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Shailene Woodley

The Big Little Lies star protested the Dakota Access pipeline ⁠— an underground oil pipeline that crosses four states ⁠— in October 2016. She was arrested in North Dakota and charged with criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot. Demonstrators were concerned about the pipeline's impact on the environment and that it would destroy land sacred to Native Americans. "Whatever your cause is. Whatever your passion is. Whatever you care about most … none of your efforts or hard-earned opinions will matter when the planet and the people you’re fighting for have nothing left to show for it," Woodley wrote in an op-ed for Time in October 2016. She pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and received one year of unsupervised probation.

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Susan Sarandon

The Rocky Horror Picture Show actress was among almost 600 women arrested during a staged sit-in protest of the Trump administration's immigration policy in Washington D.C. in 2018. "I was moved by the passionate, committed response to ending the separation of families seeking asylum and the incarceration of children," Sarandon said in a statement at the time. "This is a moral, not political, question and I’m proud to have stood with the hundreds of women to say that we do not accept this. Unite families and abolish ICE."

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Cynthia Nixon

In 2002, the Sex and the City star was arrested outside City Hall in New York City to advocate for better funding for public schools.“We marched on up, sat down and blocked the entrance,” she described the arrest to The New York Times in 2013. “The police very politely asked us to move, and we declined. They pulled up the police van and put us in.”

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Woody Harrelson

The actor scaled the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in 1996 to demand the government save a 60,000-acre redwood grove from loggers. He and other activists were charged with trespassing. "I'll take all the heat that's thrown in my direction," Harrelson said at his arraignment via the SFGate. "What we did was right." Harrelson was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and 25 hours of community service.

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Steve-O

The Jackass star climbed a 100-foot construction crane in protest against SeaWorld in Los Angeles in 2015. The MTV personality held an inflatable Shamu and a sign that read “SeaWorld Sucks," as he set off fireworks at the top of the crane. He documented the protest on Facebook Live, which led to his arrest. Steve-O was charged with two misdemeanors and served just eight hours of his 30-day jail sentence before he was released.

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Yasiin Bey

The rapper formerly known as Mos Def was arrested after throwing a guerilla concert outside of the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio Music Hall in New York City. The hip-hop artist performed his politically-charged freestyle, "Katrina Clap," which was an attack on George W. Bush administration's slow response to Hurricane Katrina. He was not charged but received a summons for operating a sound system without a permit.

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Daryl Hannah

The actress protested against authorities trying to bulldoze South Central Farm, once considered the largest urban farm in the U.S., by chaining herself to a walnut tree on the Los Angeles property in 2006. She was arrested again in 2009 for sitting in the middle of State Route 3 outside Massey Energy's Goals Coal preparation plant alongside 30 other protestors, who were fighting against mountaintop removal in West Virginia. In 2012, the star was arrested a third time for protesting the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, an oil pipeline system in Canada and the United States, outside the White House in Washington D.C. She paid $3,000 bond for the 2012 arrest.

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George Clooney

The Descendents star was one of numerous protestors, including his father Nick Clooney, arrested outside of Sudan's embassy in Washington D.C. in 2012. The actor was making a statement against Sudan's government for attacking civilians and not providing humanitarian relief for its citizens. He received a misdemeanor charge for disorderly crossing of a police line and paid a $100 fine. 

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Lucy Lawless

The Xena: Warrior Princess was handcuffed in her native country of New Zealand for camping out aboard an Arctic oil-drilling ship to raise awareness on Arctic oil drilling in 2012. She pleaded guilty to trespass charges and was sentenced to pay $651 in New Zealand dollars and 120 hours of community service.