http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...6-bf6616f33f9f
Fonda no longer welcome to speak at Nashua CC event
By KIMBERLY HOUGHTON
Sunday News Correspondent
14 hours, 3 minutes ago
NASHUA – Following a community outcry, organizers of a respected women's seminar have retracted their invitation to have actress Jane Fonda speak at the event.
With threats of a possible protest looming, Fonda will no longer serve as the keynote speaker for the New Hampshire Women's Leadership Summit scheduled for June 10 at Nashua Community College.
Last week, several veterans spoke in opposition of Fonda's public appearance in New Hampshire, calling her a traitor and anti-American.
"In recent days, we have heard voices in our community expressing moving objections to the selection of our main keynote speaker," Dr. Annabel Beerel, founder of the summit, wrote in a statement issued Friday. "While the summit encourages public discourse and diverse opinions, we do not wish to cause pain to our veterans. In addition to the many outstanding presenters and panels scheduled, we are working on engaging a new keynote (speaker) for the conference."
"She had accepted," college president Lucille Jordan said Saturday of Fonda. "But the Summit has disinvited her."
In the 1960s, Fonda engaged in political activism in opposition to the Vietnam War. She visited Hanoi, North Vietnam, in the early 1970s, where she was photographed seated on an anti-aircraft gun.
She was initially invited to speak at the summit, a professional event designed to forward careers for women, as a long-time supporter of feminist causes and to help empower females and promote women's health, according to Beerel.
After the New Hampshire Union Leader reported on Wednesday that some New Hampshire veterans were outraged the controversial actress was invited to speak, Beerel on Friday said, "She is going to be replaced."
Beerel refused to answer any further questions about the decision.
"I'm delighted. We accomplished our goal," said Roland Petersen, 72, one of the veterans opposed to having Fonda serve as the keynote speaker. "I wanted the publicity because I don't want anybody in the country considering honoring her."
The simple invitation to speak is an honor in and of itself, according to Petersen, who served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and is active with the American Legion Coffey Post in Nashua.
He hopes the Women's Leadership Summit is a success this summer, but said it would be in the group's best interest to use better judgment when selecting future speakers for its events.
"Some have said that this is just a freedom-of-speech issue, but I think this goes well beyond that," Petersen maintained.
Bill Stergios of Candia contacted Jordan last week about the matter, asking the summit to find a replacement speaker who would not offend the men and women who had fought for our country or belittle the sacrifices of those who had died in war.
"Ms. Fonda's behavior during the Vietnam War was traitorous. She actually took part in propaganda against the United States," Stergios wrote. "This issue has needlessly opened up old wounds for a lot of veterans and people who lived through that time."
Jordan contacted Stergios on Friday, telling him the college would no longer be hosting an event where Fonda was a speaker and explaining that the summit has retracted her invitation to speak.
Prior to the decision to withdraw Fonda as the keynote speaker, Beerel admitted that Fonda brings to mind some controversial issues, but so do many other well-known people. She stressed that Fonda was invited to speak as a fitness guru and that her address was not intended to be politically motivated.
Fonda has attempted to re-create herself and her image, Beerel said earlier, stressing her questionable flaws occurred 40 years ago.
Acknowledging that the Vietnam War was a time of great sensitivity, Beerel said she can understand that some veterans may be concerned because of Fonda's prior opposition to the American cause.
This year's summit program, which is in its fourth year, is filled with many guest speakers. In her statement on Friday, Beerel said she is looking forward to an inspiring day filled with many learning and networking opportunities.
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