The Joker star was protesting along with actor Martin Sheen, who was also arrested.
In scenes vaguely reminiscent – though nowhere near as violent, thankfully – of the closing scenes of Joker, actor Joaquin Phoenix was arrested following a climate change demonstration on Friday.
Phoenix was present along with actor Martin Sheen and a large number of activists as part of Jane Fonda’s final ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ climate change protest in Washington, D.C.
Fonda began the series of demonstrations in the American capital in October of 2019, noting, “We’re going to engage in civil disobedience and we’re going to get arrested every Friday”.
And so it proved, with Fonda and various names from the entertainment world including Ten Danson, Catherine Keener, Sam Waterston, Rosanna Arquette, Diane Lane, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field all feeling the effects of temporary handcuffs over the past few months.
Friday’s planned final protest saw Phoenix and Sheen join the fray.
147 people were arrested in total, a contrast to just 16 during the first week of the demonstrations. Those arrested were charged with crowding and obstruction before being released.
Phoenix, fresh from success at last weekend’s Golden Globes ceremony and tipped for an Oscar nod this Monday, spoke at a rally before the protest, underlining his own specific support regarding climate emergency.
“Sometimes we wonder what can we do in this fight against climate change, and there is something that you can do today and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume,” the 45-year-old said.
“There are things I can’t avoid. I flew a plane here today, or last night rather, but one thing I can do is change my eating habits.”
Overall, it is estimated that just under 550 people have been arrested since Fonda’s protests began.
