Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is drawing renewed criticism after sharing a video clip of actress Jane Fonda and captioning it with, “This is our moment in history to stand,” a reference to her speech made during a Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony earlier this year.
The move comes on the heels of Booker’s much-publicized 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, which ultimately had no legislative impact.
The clip, posted by Booker on Saturday, features Fonda delivering remarks likening the modern political moment — specifically opposition to President Donald Trump — to some of the most consequential movements in world history, including the American Civil Rights Movement, the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and the Stonewall riots.
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“Have any of you ever watched a documentary of great social movements, like apartheid, or our Civil Rights Movement, or Stonewall and asked yourself: would you have been brave enough to walk the bridge? Would you have been able to take the hoses and the batons and the dogs?” Fonda asked.
“We don’t have to wonder anymore. Because we are in our documentary moment. This is it! And it’s not a rehearsal!”
This is our moment in history to stand. @Janefonda pic.twitter.com/uKs9DyZus8
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) April 19, 2025
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The remarks were initially made by Fonda in February during her acceptance speech, but Booker’s decision to amplify the speech on social media over the weekend reignited debate over the credibility of the comparisons being drawn.
Fonda, who remains a polarizing figure due to her controversial trip to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, has long been associated with political activism.
Critics continue to point to her past statements and actions that disparaged U.S. troops while she visited enemy forces.
Despite that history, Booker appeared to endorse her message without qualification.
The timing of the post also comes as some Democratic lawmakers have come under scrutiny for engaging with controversial figures, including recent examples of members of Congress visiting El Salvador to advocate on behalf of an illegal immigrant allegedly tied to the violent MS-13 gang.
Critics say this, coupled with Booker’s embrace of Fonda’s rhetoric, shows a pattern of tone-deaf political posturing.
Booker has previously faced mockery for his prolonged 25-hour Senate speech, which gained attention but resulted in no policy outcome.
Even liberal commentator Bill Maher previously referred to the speech as “an exercise in narcissism.”
Fonda’s reference to hoses and attack dogs — symbols associated with the brutal opposition to civil rights marchers in the 1960s — was particularly controversial given the context.
Her comparison of present-day resistance to President Trump to historical injustices was viewed by many as exaggerated and insensitive.
Political observers noted that Booker’s post may have been an attempt to boost his national profile or reconnect with progressive audiences.
However, the reaction suggests the effort may have backfired, with critics on both sides of the political spectrum calling it performative and out of touch.
Fonda’s comments also follow a trend of Hollywood figures drawing historical parallels in opposition to President Trump — comparisons that many Americans have rejected in polling and public discourse.
President Trump received over 77 million votes in the 2024 election, a reality that complicates claims of authoritarianism made by some public figures.
Booker has not issued a follow-up statement or clarification since posting the video.
The social media response has been sharply divided, with some praising his call to “stand” and others questioning the effectiveness and appropriateness of invoking civil rights imagery in today’s political climate.
As Democrats continue to align themselves with figures such as Fonda and others with controversial records, critics argue that the party risks alienating voters who are focused on pressing policy issues rather than symbolic gestures and celebrity endorsements.
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