Jane Fonda avoids fifth arrest at climate change protest in D.C.

In a twist of events, it's Friday, and Jane Fonda is not in handcuffs.

The 81-year-old actress was indeed in Washington D.C., protesting as part of Fire Drill Fridays, an initiative which aims to have politicians address climate change. But this time Fonda was not arrested, according to Fire Drill Fridays' Ira Arlook, who was on the ground with the "Grace and Frankie" actress.

"No one was arrested. Police refused to arrest anyone," Arlook said in a statement to USA TODAY.

USA TODAY has reached out to United States Capitol Police for comment.

This is the fifth week in a row Fonda has been on Capitol Hill demanding change, but it's the first one where she's not in police custody.

In a letter previously shared to Fire Drill Friday's website, Fonda said she's "moved to Washington, D.C. to be closer to the epicenter of the fight for our climate."

She added: "Every Friday through January, I will be leading weekly demonstrations on Capitol Hill to demand that action by our political leaders be taken to address the climate emergency we are in. We can't afford to wait."

In an interview this week with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress noted it may not be wise for her to keep up the weekly arrests, considering a long-term jail stay could interfere with her showbiz schedule.

"I have to be careful not to get to a point where they're going to keep me for 90 days because I have to begin preparing for 'Grace & Frankie' in January," she told the outlet in an article published Wednesday. "So I'm not going to get arrested every time. They give you three warnings and so I will step away at the third warning."

Last Friday, Fonda was arrested with a couple more of her friends.

She was joined by fellow actresses Rosanna Arquette, 60, and Catherine Keener, 60, both of whom were also arrested during a demonstration at the U.S. Senate Hart Building, according to photos and videos shared on Twitter accounts for Fire Drill Fridays and Fonda.

The fourth arrest landed Fonda an overnight stay in a D.C. jail.

"In my cell it was just me and the cockroaches," she told THR of the experience, adding she was eventually moved to a cell block with other women after seven hours alone.

"I talked to them and heard their stories," she said. "A lot of it was domestic abuse and poverty and despair. And there were a number of disturbed people in there. It was sad."

On Oct. 25, the activist was arrested with "The Good Place" star Ted Danson, and she was arrested alongside actor Sam Waterston the week before that.

Fonda described the toll of weekly arrests to The Washington Post in an article published Saturday.

"As one of my jailers said, 'There’s gotta be better ways to call attention to your cause – don’t come back,' " Fonda said. "I think she’s right. … My 82-year-old bones hurt."

Fonda's 1st D.C. arrest: Jane Fonda arrested at climate change protest she organized on Capitol Hill

Fonda's 2nd D.C. arrest: Jane Fonda arrested again at climate change protest; Sam Waterston also arrested

Fonda's 3rd D.C. arrest: Jane Fonda arrested again at climate change protest; 'Good Place' star Ted Danson also arrested

Fonda's 4th D.C. arrest: Jane Fonda, Rosanna Arquette and Catherine Keener arrested during climate change protest in DC

Contributing: Sara M Moniuszko, Erin Jensen, Charles Trepany and Cydney Henderson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jane Fonda avoids arrest at her fifth climate change protest