Angelina Jolieis showing her support forMcKayla Maroney,Aly Raismanand those whotestified at this week’s Senate hearingon the FBI’s handling of the Larry Nassar investigation.
On Thursday, the actress and director, 46, shared a photo of herself posing with some of the former and current athletes who appeared at the hearing to share their stories, including Maroney, Raisman, Maggie Nichols, Kaylee Lorincz, and Jessica Howard.
“I was honored to meet with some of the brave US gymnasts who appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday,” Joliecaptioned the pictureon her Instagram. “I’m in awe of their courage and commitment to preventing future failures to investigate abuse.”
Angelina Jolie/Instagram
Jolie added that she was able to meet with the women as she was on Capitol Hill “engaging with Senators on the Violence Against Women Act reauthorizationand FBI reforms, including better protections for abused children, non-biased forensic evidence collection, trauma care, and judicial training.”
She ended her post with the hashtag “#StopViolenceAgainstWomen.”
In January 2018, Nassar, who was the former doctor for USA Gymnastics (USAG), wassentenced to up to 175 years in prison, after more than 150 women and girls claimed he sexually abused them over a 20-year span.
A Senate hearing was held on Wednesday regarding the Justice Department Inspector General report that said the FBI failed to properly respond to the 2015 sexual abuse allegations against Nassar in their investigation.
During the hearing, Maroney, Raisman, Nichols and Olympic gymnastSimone Bilesalleged that the FBI made false statements in the official report, which they say, failed to document the survivors' claims.
“I don’t want another young gymnast, Olympic athlete or any individual to experience the horror that I and hundreds of others have endured before, during and continuing to this day, in the wake — of the Larry Nassar abuse,” Biles said, adding, “To be clear, I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse.”
Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty
Jolie’s visit to Capitol Hill comesahead of the release of her bookwith Amnesty International and human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren, titledKnow Your Rights and Claim Them: A Guide for Youth.
The Oscar winner, who has long been anadvocate for children around the world, previouslytold Reutersthat she hopes the book will help those who are vulnerable to “fight back.”
“So many children are in harm’s way across the world and we’re simply not doing enough,” she said. “These are their rights, decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
