According to Deadline, Lily Tomlin was arrested on Friday after attending climate protest in Washington D.C. led by Jane Fonda, Tomlin’s Grace and Frankie co-star.
As Tomlin and dozens of others occupied the steps of the Capitol after the rally, demonstrators could be heard shouting “Lily! Lily!” in support of the actress.
Fonda has made it clear that she plans on continuing to lead the climate protests until mid-January when her and Tomlin’s Netflix show Grace & Frankie returns to production. This latest protest marks the 12th consecutive rally in weeks.
Though Fonda was not arrested at this particular rally, she has been arrested at the previous five protests. Last fall she moved to Washington in an effort to help spearhead the weekly demonstrations, called Fire Drill Fridays, which was inspired by teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. Even with Congress out of session, the protests haven’t slowed momentum, even during the holiday time periods, for instance Friday’s event and one other held the day after Thanksgiving.
Tomlin and Fonda are said to have even participated in a rally on the southeast lawn of the Capitol, focusing on the theme of how climate change damages the world’s forests.
Tomlin addressed the crowd while also blasting investment company BlackRock for financially supporting firms involved in deforestation and immigration detention camps. Tomlin said, “We have got to stop hugging and start saving the trees.” She further added that those immigrants include “climate refugees,” or those who move from their homes for reasons related to climate change.
“These corporations are making oodles of money on the front end, oodles of money on the back end. It is beyond reprehensible.” Tomlin said.
Fonda has stated that the following two protests, on Jan. 3 and Jan. 10, will be directed at “shaming the companies that are underwriting the fossil fuel industry.”
Season 6 of Grace & Frankie will premiere in January 2020 on Netflix and the seventh and final season has been announced, as well.