Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen among those arrested at Jane Fonda's climate change protest in Washington DC
Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen were among the 147 protestors arrested in Capitol Hill on Friday following Jane Fonda's final climate change protest, the Fire Drill Fridays, organized in the capital. Maggie Gyllenhaal had also taken part in the protests.
Fonda was not present with the protestors who were arrested for occupying the steps of the Capitol, but she later participated in another climate demonstration at a Chase Bank branch nearby.
Phoenix, 45, and Sheen, 79, were both released soon after. Authorities processed individuals on-site, for expedience, given the number of arrests at the protest. It is unclear what penalties they have or may face.
Phoenix also spoke while at the protest, saying, "Something that oftentimes isn't talked about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third-leading cause of climate change. I think sometimes we wonder, 'What can we do in this fight against climate change?' And there is something you can do today, right now, and tomorrow by making a choice about what you consume."
He continued, "I struggle so much with what I can do at times. There are things I can't avoid. I flew a plane out here last night, but one thing I can do is change my eating habits. So I just want to urge all of you to join me in that."
Phoenix's presence at the protest comes shortly after he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture for his role in 'Joker'. During his acceptance speech, he thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press “for recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change” by going with a plant-based menu for the ceremony.
He also acknowledged the massive bushfires that are raging across Australia. He said, "It’s really nice that so many people have sent their well wishes to Australia but we have to do more than that."
"It’s great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives," he continued. "I hope that we can do that. We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs for the awards sometimes, or back, please."