Violet Affleck Urges Action Against COVID’s Impact on Youth at UN
Violet Affleck, the 19-year-old daughter of actors Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, addressed the United Nations on September 23, 2023. Speaking as a freshman at Yale University, she highlighted the significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and advocated for measures such as clean air and masking to mitigate long COVID transmission.
During her speech in New York, Violet underscored the urgency of the current situation. “We are told by leaders across the board that we are the future,” she stated while donning a K95 mask. “But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.” Her remarks criticized the adult population for downplaying the significance of airborne transmission and the threat posed by long COVID.
Violet articulated the lack of choices and information available to young people regarding their health during the pandemic. “Here’s what we know about SARS CoV2,” she explained. “It is airborne, floating and lingering in the air. One infection can result in disabling damage to almost every cell in the body from the brain and heart to the nerves and blood vessels.” She further noted that with each subsequent infection, the risk of long COVID increases, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The statistics she cited are alarming. According to Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, long COVID has now surpassed asthma as the most common chronic illness in children aged five years and under. Violet shared her concerns for younger children, expressing fear that they may not know a world free from the debilitating effects of the virus. “I am furious on their behalf,” she said, condemning the inaction of adults who have the means to protect children but fail to do so.
Violet’s address also touched on the historical context of public health interventions. She referenced the societal fight against indoor smoking, recalling her childhood confusion at no smoking signs on airplanes. “My only memory of that era at almost 20 years old is being confused as a child about the no smoking signs on planes. ‘Who would do that? That’s gross,’” she remarked.
Her vision for the future emphasizes the need for clean air as a fundamental right. “We can recognize filtered air as a human right, as intuitively as we do filtered water,” she asserted. Violet called for the establishment of clean air infrastructure that is so prevalent and essential that future generations might not even question its necessity.
This is not the first time Violet has spoken out on the issues surrounding COVID-19. Back in July 2024, she also addressed mask mandates at a meeting of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, demonstrating her commitment to advocating for public health and the well-being of children.
Violet Affleck’s impassioned speech at the United Nations serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the younger generation and the urgent need for action to protect their health and future.
