“Climate emergency” is the word of the year, Oxford Dictionaries confirmed last month. This is thanks to activist Greta Thunberg, who started a global protest by striking every Friday in Sweden. Her Global Climate Strike, which took place in September, saw record numbers of people join the protests. It’s clear that people are finally starting to take this crisis seriously – and are pushing leaders to realise the same thing.

One person who has continued to made headlines for protesting against climate change is legendary actor Jane Fonda. The Oscar-winner moved to Washington DC after vowing to participate in Fire Drill Friday climate change demonstrations on Capitol Hill every Friday until January. She has been arrested multiple times for doing this, but it has not stopped her keeping that promise.

Now, fellow award-winning and iconic actor Sally Field (Steel Magnolias, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Forrest Gump) has joined Fonda in the protest – and she has also been arrested. Fire Drill Friday confirmed the news with a video on Friday (13 December).

But Field gave a powerful speech before the arrest happened – and it reminded people of why she was there in the first place.

“I come with my heart and my voice. I am a mother. I am a grandmother. The time is now!” Field told the crowd.

She continued: “We cannot sit back in our comfort zones on our couches, and wonder, ‘What can we do?’ We can get out. We can do something in the rain, whatever it takes. I’ve been learning. I have been trying to learn. I, like everyone else, feel this is such a big problem. How can we ever accomplish anything? But we can!”

She then went on to talk about the 1979 film she starred in titled, Norma Rae. The titular role she played was based on textile mill worker Crystal Lee Sutton, who she described to the crowd as being a “fighter” and a “real hero.”

You can watch the full speech in the video above.

Field is a noted activist, known for supporting causes such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and bone health.

Images: Getty