Angelina Jolie visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday and thanked officers who lost their colleagues after defending politicians from the insurrection during the January 6 riot, as she advocated for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Jolie took the opportunity to thank Capitol Officer Harry Dunn, who testified in Congress after he was called racial slurs and physically assaulted during the insurrection.
A picture of Jolie standing next to Dunn was shared on Twitter.
Dunn lost fellow officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered two strokes a day after keeping rioters from entering the Capitol and harming lawmakers.
Four other officers who were on duty during the riot in January died by suicide after defending the site.
Officers Gunther Hashida, Jeffrey Smith, Howard Liebengood, and Kyle deFreytag took their lives in the months after the attack.
Jolie also met with Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer to talk about the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which was signed into law by President Clinton in 1994, but lapsed in 2019.
Angelina Jolie visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday and met with Senators. Jolie also took the opportunity to thank Officer Harry Dunn, who was on the Capitol during the January 6 riot
0fficer Brian Sicknick suffered two strokes a day after keeping rioters from entering the Capitol and harming lawmakers
Four other officers who were on duty during the riot in January died by suicide after defending the site. Pro-Trump rioters breached the security perimeter and penetrated the U.S. Capitol to protest against the Electoral College vote count that would certify President-elect Joe Biden as the winner in Washington
'I'm in DC leading up to the VAWA reauthorization, FBI reforms, and other important protections and rights.
'I've met with experts for years now, learning about best practices including non-biased forensic evidence collection, and advocating for improvements,' Jolie said in a statement.
'I'm grateful for these timely and valuable meetings with senators, especially focused on provisions for children's health,' she added.
The VAWA was introduced by President Biden when he was a senator.
In March, the House of Representatives passed legislation to restore it.
If approved, the act would give funding to states that make dealing with sexual assault and domestic abuse a priority.
Sen. Schumer thanked the actress for her visit and share pictures of their meeting on Twitter
Apart from having a successful career in Hollywood, Jolie has been a longtime advocate of several humanitarian causes.
Sen. Charles Schumer meets Angelina Jolie on Capitol Hill on September 14. Jolie met with Democratic leadership in the Senate to discuss the future of the Violence Against Women Act
Jolie reportedly asked senators to consider expanding the act to cover abuse targeted at children and 'prioritize children's health and safety in legal responses to trauma, including through judicial training and advancements in forensic evidence collection.'
Sen Schumer thanked the Maleficent star on Twitter.
'Thank you to Angelina Jolie for coming in today to talk about the fight to reauthorize VAWA in the Senate and how we can help support research on diagnosing injuries from domestic violence and child abuse to help survivors,' Schumer said.
Senator Whip Dick told Forbes that Jolie was 'very serious-minded' and knew a lot about the subject.
Jolie has been deeply involved in social causes. She made her Instagram debut in August, right after the US withdrew its forces from Afghanistan.
Angelina Jolie walks through the Capitol after meeting with Senate Democratic leadership about the future of the Violence Against Women Act
'Thank you to Angelina Jolie for coming in today to talk about the fight to reauthorize VAWA in the Senate and how we can help support research on diagnosing injuries from domestic violence and child abuse to help survivors,' tweeted Sen. Schumer
Actress and activist Angelina Jolie rides the Senate Subway out of the Capitol after meeting with Senate Democratic leadership
On her first Instagram post, Jolie shared 'A Letter from an Afghan Girl,' an account of the consequences of the Taliban taking power for women and girls in the country.
'I was on the border of Afghanistan two weeks before 9/11, where I met Afghan refugees who had fled the Taliban. This was twenty years ago.
'It is sickening to watch Afghans being displaced yet again out of the fear and uncertainty that has gripped their country.
'To spend so much time and money, to have blood shed and lives lost only to come to this, is a failure almost impossible to understand, weighed in Jolie.
'Watching for decades how Afghan refugees - some of the most capable people in the world - are treated like a burden is also sickening.
'Knowing that if they had the tools and respect, how much they would do for themselves. And meeting so many women and girls who not only wanted an education, but fought for it.
'Like others who are committed, I will not turn away. I will continue to look for ways to help. And I hope you’ll join me, ' she concluded.
Apart from having a successful career in Hollywood, Jolie has been a longtime advocate for several humanitarian causes.
She has visited refugee camps since she was in her 20s, and is an United Nations Special Envoy.
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