Stars detained or arrested protesting for a cause

Susan Sarandon joined activists supporting the One Fair Wage campaign outside the Albany Capitol building on May 11, 2023. The aim of the campaign is to fight for fair wages for tipped service workers. Sarandon was among eight protestors arrested that day on suspicion of disorderly conduct. They were all released later that day and ordered to appear in court.

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Susan Sarandon -

This wasn't the first time Sarandon has been arrested during her participation in protests and rallies. Another arrest occurred during a protest against former President Donald Trump's immigration policy on June 28, 2018.

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Susan Sarandon - In 1999, she was also arrested for civil disobedience during a protest against the police's use of excessive force, after an unarmed African immigrant was shot in New York.

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Greta Thunberg -

It was only a matter of time before the young activist Greta Thunberg added her name to this list. The climate activist was detained by German police on January 17, 2023 at a protest over the expansion of a coal mine in the west German village of Lützerath. She was detained at the same site just two days prior after she and a group of protesters broke through a police barrier and encroached on a coal pit which authorities hadn't secured, though it was largely out of concern that the protesters could set the ground in motion after being softened by rainfall, CNN reports. Protesters are taking a stand against the razing of the German village and the expansion of the Garzweiler lignite coal mine, as lignite is the most polluting type of coal, and coal is the most polluting fossil fuel.

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Greta Thunberg - "Yesterday I was part of a group that peacefully protested the expansion of a coal mine in Germany. We were kettled by police and then detained but were let go later that evening," Thunberg tweeted January 18. "Climate protection is not a crime."

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Alyssa Milano -

Alyssa Milano was one of the more than 20 protesters arrested outside the White House on October 19, 2021, while demanding that the government protect voting rights and pass the Freedom to Vote Act which would make it easier to register to vote, make Election Day a federal holiday, and allow people to use a variety of IDs to vote.

Photos showed Milano at the protest, organized by progressive group People for the American Way, leading a march before being arrested by US Park Police for refusing to clear the area, which is reportedly part of Washington D.C.'s misdemeanor law that prohibits crowding or obstructing streets or sidewalks, Deadline reports.

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Alyssa Milano - The activist actress later confirmed her arrest on Twitter, writing: "I was just arrested for demanding the Biden Administration and the Senate to use their mandate to protect voting rights. Stand with me and @peoplefor and tell the Senate and White House that voting rights shouldn’t depend on where you live. #DontMuteOurVote."

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Joaquin Phoenix -

Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen were detained while they participated in Jane Fonda's Fire Drill Fridays campaign in Washington, D.C., on January 10, 2021.

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Lily Tomlin -

Jane Fonda's 'Grace and Frankie' co-star was arrested on December 27, 2019, on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Unsurprisingly, Tomlin was there in support of Fonda and the Fire Drill Fridays campaign.

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Casey Wilson -

The actress and comedian was arrested on December 20, 2019. She was also taking part in the Fire Drill Fridays campaign.

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Sally Field -

The iconic actress was arrested on December 13, 2019. You guessed it: she was taking part in the Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C.

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Paul Scheer -

The actor and comedian was arrested at the Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C. on November 29, 2019.

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Diane Lane, Piper Perabo, and Amber Valletta -

Actresses Diane Lane, Piper Perabo, and Amber Valletta were arrested while taking part in Jane Fonda's Fire Drill Fridays climate change protest in Washington, D.C. on November 22, 2019, having this time taken place outside the Supreme Court building.

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Robert Kennedy Jr., Marg Helgenberger, and June Diane Raphael -

On November 15, 2019, Jane Fonda's 'Grace and Frankie' TV daughter June Diane Raphael, Marg Helgenberger ('CSI'), and Robert Kennedy Jr. were arrested for joining her climate change protest on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

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Rosanna Arquette and Catherine Keener - Actresses Rosanna Arquette and Catherine Keener joined Jane Fonda in getting cuffed as a result of her continued climate change protest. The three were arrested, along with many others, in the Hart Senate office building in Washington, D.C. on November 1, 2019.

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Ted Danson -

Ted Danson and Jane Fonda were arrested on October 25, 2019 on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., as part of the ongoing climate change protest.

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Sam Waterston - Sam Waterston and Jane Fonda were arrested on October 18, 2019 on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The 'Grace and Frankie' co-stars were protesting "in an effort to urge U.S. officials to take climate change seriously." Waterston was again arrested at the protests on January 3, 2020.

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Jane Fonda -

Jane Fonda has been arrested a total of five times since she became involved with the Fire Drill Fridays campaign.

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Jane Fonda -

The actress was also arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in 1970 on suspicion of drug trafficking (but she said the pills were vitamins). This was while she was taking part in an anti-war speaking tour in Canada, and she claims the arresting officers told her they were acting on White House orders.

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Martin Sheen - 'The West Wing' actor has been arrested over 60 times for his participation in social and political protests, marches, demonstrations, and boycotts.

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Martin Sheen - He has participated in rallies ranging from protests against the US war in Iraq to protests demanding that the US close the U.S. Army School of the Americas.

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Piper Perabo -

Another "repeat offender," actress Piper Perabo was arrested for protesting Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination during his confirmation hearing in Washington on September 4, 2018.

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Piper Perabo -

The 'Coyote Ugly' star tweeted a video of her being escorted out of the hearing room by police, alongside several other women. Judge Kavanaugh has been criticized for his right-wing stance on issues such as abortion, women's rights, and gun control.

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George Clooney - The actor is well-known for his human rights activism.

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George Clooney - In 2012, he was arrested for disorderly conduct during a protest at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Protesters were asking for humanitarian aid to be allowed in Sudan.

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Mos Def - In 2006, the rapper allegedly staged a protest against the Bush administration's slow response in providing aid to Hurricane Katrina victims.

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Mos Def -

Outside New York City's Radio City Music Hall, he broke out into an impromptu performance that led to his arrest for disorderly conduct.

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Cynthia Nixon - The actress-turned-politician has participated in her fair share of political protests.

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Cynthia Nixon - After education budget cuts in New York City resulted in overcrowding in schools, she took to the streets with other parents to protest, and ended up arrested.

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Shailene Woodley - The actress was arrested in 2016 during a Standing Rock protest in North Dakota, US.

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Shailene Woodley - She joined protesters fighting against the Dakota Access Pipeline, a project that threatened the region's clean water and Native American ancient burial grounds.

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Shia LaBeouf - The former Disney Channel and 'Transformers' franchise star was arrested after getting into a scuffle at his anti-Trump art installation in 2017.

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Shia LaBeouf - The art exhibit protests Donald Trump's presidency with the words "he will not divide us" written on a blank wall.

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Rosario Dawson - The actress has been a longtime political activist, joining causes such as the Women's March, Black Lives Matter, and the Democracy Spring protests.

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Rosario Dawson - In 2016, she and other protesters were arrested for crowding and obstruction during a Capitol Hill demonstration against corruption of money in politics.

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Lucy Lawless - In 2012, the star of 'Xena: Warrior Princess' joined Greenpeace activists in New Zealand to protest Arctic oil-drilling.

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Lucy Lawless - The protesters completed a four-day sit-in on an oil-drilling ship before getting arrested.

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Danny Glover - The actor doubles as a labor rights activist. After workers were allegedly laid off from a food service company in 2010 for attempting to unionize, Glover joined the cause.

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Danny Glover -

He was arrested after allegedly crossing police tape and refusing to move back.

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Noah Wyle - In 2012, the star of the hit series 'ER' joined activists protesting proposed Medicaid cuts. The cuts in the program were predicted to be detrimental to elderly and disabled persons.

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Noah Wyle -

He was arrested alongside many other disability advocates on charges of unlawful conduct.

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Woody Harrelson - The actor, who refers to himself as a "tree hugger," suspended himself from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, US, in a protest to save an endangered forest in California.

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Woody Harrelson - Harrelson was arrested with other participating environmental activists on accounts of trespassing, being a public nuisance, and refusing to obey a peace order.

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Hayden Panettiere -

During a surf trip to Japan in 2007, the actress allegedly tried to disrupt a dolphin hunt that led to an altercation with local fishermen.

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Hayden Panettiere -

Although the Japanese authorities issued a warrant for her arrest, she was able to leave the country without consequence.

Now that you're here, have a look at stars who were arrested abroad.

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Susan Sarandon -

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Susan Sarandon -

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Susan Sarandon - In 1999, she was also arrested for civil disobedience during a protest against the police's use of excessive force, after an unarmed African immigrant was shot in New York.

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Greta Thunberg -

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Alyssa Milano -

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Joaquin Phoenix -

Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen were detained while they participated in Jane Fonda's Fire Drill Fridays campaign in Washington, D.C., on January 10, 2021.

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Lily Tomlin -

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Casey Wilson -

The actress and comedian was arrested on December 20, 2019. She was also taking part in the Fire Drill Fridays campaign.

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Sally Field -

The iconic actress was arrested on December 13, 2019. You guessed it: she was taking part in the Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C.

Getty Images

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Paul Scheer -

The actor and comedian was arrested at the Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C. on November 29, 2019.

Getty Images

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Diane Lane, Piper Perabo, and Amber Valletta -

NL Beeld

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Robert Kennedy Jr., Marg Helgenberger, and June Diane Raphael -

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Ted Danson -

Ted Danson and Jane Fonda were arrested on October 25, 2019 on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., as part of the ongoing climate change protest.

NL Beeld

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Jane Fonda -

Jane Fonda has been arrested a total of five times since she became involved with the Fire Drill Fridays campaign.

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Jane Fonda -

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Martin Sheen - 'The West Wing' actor has been arrested over 60 times for his participation in social and political protests, marches, demonstrations, and boycotts.

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Martin Sheen - He has participated in rallies ranging from protests against the US war in Iraq to protests demanding that the US close the U.S. Army School of the Americas.

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Piper Perabo -

Another "repeat offender," actress Piper Perabo was arrested for protesting Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination during his confirmation hearing in Washington on September 4, 2018.

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Piper Perabo -

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George Clooney - The actor is well-known for his human rights activism.

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George Clooney - In 2012, he was arrested for disorderly conduct during a protest at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Protesters were asking for humanitarian aid to be allowed in Sudan.

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Mos Def - In 2006, the rapper allegedly staged a protest against the Bush administration's slow response in providing aid to Hurricane Katrina victims.

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Mos Def -

Outside New York City's Radio City Music Hall, he broke out into an impromptu performance that led to his arrest for disorderly conduct.

Getty Images

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Cynthia Nixon - The actress-turned-politician has participated in her fair share of political protests.

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Cynthia Nixon - After education budget cuts in New York City resulted in overcrowding in schools, she took to the streets with other parents to protest, and ended up arrested.

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Shailene Woodley - The actress was arrested in 2016 during a Standing Rock protest in North Dakota, US.

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Shailene Woodley - She joined protesters fighting against the Dakota Access Pipeline, a project that threatened the region's clean water and Native American ancient burial grounds.

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Shia LaBeouf - The former Disney Channel and 'Transformers' franchise star was arrested after getting into a scuffle at his anti-Trump art installation in 2017.

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Shia LaBeouf - The art exhibit protests Donald Trump's presidency with the words "he will not divide us" written on a blank wall.

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Rosario Dawson - The actress has been a longtime political activist, joining causes such as the Women's March, Black Lives Matter, and the Democracy Spring protests.

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Rosario Dawson - In 2016, she and other protesters were arrested for crowding and obstruction during a Capitol Hill demonstration against corruption of money in politics.

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Lucy Lawless - In 2012, the star of 'Xena: Warrior Princess' joined Greenpeace activists in New Zealand to protest Arctic oil-drilling.

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Lucy Lawless - The protesters completed a four-day sit-in on an oil-drilling ship before getting arrested.

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Danny Glover - The actor doubles as a labor rights activist. After workers were allegedly laid off from a food service company in 2010 for attempting to unionize, Glover joined the cause.

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Danny Glover -

He was arrested after allegedly crossing police tape and refusing to move back.

Getty Images

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Noah Wyle - In 2012, the star of the hit series 'ER' joined activists protesting proposed Medicaid cuts. The cuts in the program were predicted to be detrimental to elderly and disabled persons.

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Noah Wyle -

He was arrested alongside many other disability advocates on charges of unlawful conduct.

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Woody Harrelson - The actor, who refers to himself as a "tree hugger," suspended himself from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, US, in a protest to save an endangered forest in California.

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Woody Harrelson - Harrelson was arrested with other participating environmental activists on accounts of trespassing, being a public nuisance, and refusing to obey a peace order.

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Hayden Panettiere -

During a surf trip to Japan in 2007, the actress allegedly tried to disrupt a dolphin hunt that led to an altercation with local fishermen.

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Hayden Panettiere -

Although the Japanese authorities issued a warrant for her arrest, she was able to leave the country without consequence.

Now that you're here, have a look at stars who were arrested abroad.

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Stars detained or arrested protesting for a cause

These celebrities weren't afraid to back what they believe in

15/10/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Protests

While many celebrities seem to prefer commenting on social and political issues on social media, there are plenty of others who personally join various causes, and even get detained or arrested for fighting for what they believe in.

Curious about these famous activists? In the following gallery, scroll through some of the stars who participated in protests, demonstrations, and sit-ins, and were detained or arrested for doing so.