Evergreen activist: Jane Fonda celebrates her 78th birthday by spearheading rally in opposition of the Dakota Access Pipeline

By Jason Chester for MailOnline

Published: 05:07 EST, 22 December 2016 | Updated: 06:34 EST, 22 December 2016

A rich history of dedicated activism showed no sign of abating with age on Wednesday afternoon as Jane Fonda celebrated her 78th birthday by protesting against the contentious Dakota Access Pipeline.

The celebrated Hollywood veteran was joined by acting colleagues Lily Tomlin, Catherine Keener and Frances Fisher for a show of solidarity with the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, whose homes, water supply and way of life stand to be compromised by the 1,172 mile long underground oil pipeline.

Marching through Los Angeles, the four actresses were accompanied by Native American tribesman Grey Wolf as they railed against Wells Fargo and Chase – two of the 17 banks responsible for funding the divisive project with $2.5 billion in loans from an estimated overall cost of $3.78 billion.

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A show of support: A rich history of dedicated activism showed no sign of abating with age on Wednesday afternoon as Jane Fonda celebrated her 78th birthday by protesting against the contentious Dakota Access Pipeline

Wednesday’s #bankexit rally was the culmination of a growing movement, launched across social media and promoted by stars including Susan Sarandon, whereby those against the project are encouraged to withdraw their money from affiliated banks and into local credit unions.

Spearheading the event, Fonda was initializing plans to withdraw her own considerable fortune from Wells Fargo in protest against the pipeline and its threat to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

In keeping with the theme of the day she was also presented with a topical birthday cake, upon which the iconic promotional image of herself in 1968 film Barbarella was renamed ‘Bankarella’ and embellished with an ironic shower of dollar bills. 

In good company: Fonda was joined by Native American tribesman Grey Wolf and actresses Lily Tomlin, Frances Fisher and Catherine Keener

#bankexit is the latest in a long line of movements supported  by the actress, who has consistently used her celebrity status to shine a light on causes close to her heart.

In the mid-sixties Fonda began a lengthy campaign in opposition of the Vietnam War, eventually going on to form the anti-war roadshow Free The Army (FTA) with fellow actors Donald Sutherland and Fred Gardner.

In 1972 the actress would also make a contentious visit to war-torn Hanoi, where she witnessed fist hand the destruction caused by US bombing in the area. 

Give peace a chance: Fonda was initializing plans to withdraw her own considerable fortune from DAPL investor Wells Fargo in protest against the pipeline and its threat to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation

Quite a crowd: The #bankexit rally generated a large number of people opposed to the pipeline

However her visit ended in controversy after she was pictures sitting astride a Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun - a move that earned the nickname 'Hanoi Jane.' 

During that time the actress was also thought to be a keen supporter of Resistance Inside the Army (RITA), whereby factions of American Serviceman were against to the idea of armed combat in south east Asia, after meeting a like-minded US army officer during a trip to Paris.

Reflecting on that time, Fonda  later said she harboured regrets about some of her actions during a 1988 interview with Barbara Walters. 

Special day: In keeping with the theme of the day she was also presented with a topical birthday cake, upon which the iconic promotional image of herself in 1968 film Barbarella was renamed ‘Bankarella’ and embellished with an ironic shower of dollar bills

Staunch advocate: #bankexit is the latest in a long line of movements supported by the actress, who has consistently used her celebrity status to shine a light on causes close to her heart

Support us: Wednesday’s #bankexit rally was the culmination of a growing movement, launched across social media and promoted by stars including Susan Sarandon, whereby those against the project are encouraged to withdraw their money from affiliated banks and into local credit unions

'I was trying to help end the killing and the war, but there were times when I was thoughtless and careless about it and I'm very sorry that I hurt them,' she said.

'I will go to my grave regretting the photograph of me in an anti-aircraft gun, which looks like I was trying to shoot at American planes. It hurt so many soldiers. It galvanized such hostility. It was the most horrible thing I could possibly have done. It was just thoughtless.' 

Over the years Fonda has also supported a range of feminist causes, while remaining fiercely opposed to Israeli-Palestinian hostilities and the Iraq wars, culminating in an appearance at a 2007 anti-war rally in Washington DC. 

Previously: In the mid-sixties Fonda began a lengthy campaign in opposition of the Vietnam War

Plenty to talk about: The actress was a regular fixture at anti-war rallies in the sixties and seventies 

 

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