Violet Affleck is speaking out.
On Tuesday, July 9, the 18-year-old daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck appeared at a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting and took the stand during the public comment section, which can be seen in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Introducing herself as “Violet Affleck, 18 years old, Los Angeles resident, voting for the first time,” the teenager called for access to masks and free, quality testing, while also voicing her opposition to mask bans.
“I was afflicted with a viral infection in 2019,” the teenager revealed while speaking at the Kenneth Hahn Executive Hall in Los Angeles. “I’m OK now, but I’ve seen firsthand that medicine doesn’t always have the answers for the effects of even mild viruses. The COVID-19 pandemic has made that even more clear.”
Violet Affleck and her mother Jennifer Garner attend a dinner at the White House on December 1, 2022.
Sarah Silbiger/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty
“One in 10 people who are infected will develop long COVID, which has devastating neurological consequences. [and] “Cardiovascular disease can rob you of your ability to work, move, see and even think,” Violet continued, noting that the disease affects vulnerable people more than the general population.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of post-COVID syndrome may include fatigue, symptoms that worsen after physical or mental exertion, fever, and pulmonary (respiratory) symptoms such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath and coughing.
The Mayo Clinic Proceedings added that post-COVID symptoms are common and have “caused widespread unemployment and billions of dollars in lost wages.”
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“To combat the prolonged COVID crisis, we will be calling for mask availability, air filtration, installation of far-UV lights in government facilities, including prisons and jails, and mandatory mask-wearing in county health care facilities,” Violet continued during the board meeting.
“We need to expand the availability of quality free testing and treatment, and most importantly, the county must oppose mask bans for any reason,” she added.
“They’re not making us safer. They’re putting vulnerable members of our community at risk and preventing us from joining together in LA. Thank you,” concluded Violet, who graduated on May 30.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.
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Garner, 52, and Affleck, 51, have two children together, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12.
Speaking to People magazine in April 2023, Garner spoke about parenting and admitted that she understands how tough it is to be a teenager in this day and age.
“I just have so much love for teenagers,” she said at the time. “I love them and I love what they’re going through. I know how hard it is to be a teenager right now.”
When it comes to helping kids get through this stage in life, the Yes Day star said it’s important to be open to learning new things.
“So, I learn as much from them as they learn from me, maybe even more,” the actress said.
