Rosario Dawson has always been a politically active celebrity. From her continued work with Voto Latino and appearances year after year at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner to recently introducing Bernie Sanders at one of his political rallies, it’s not hard to argue that Dawson is easily one of Hollywood’s most (unabashedly) politically prominent people.
Which is why it’s not entirely surprising that, along with several dozen other protesters, the actress was arrested during a demonstration on Capitol Hill last Friday.
Dawson, known for her recent role as Claire Temple in the Marvel and Netflix shows Daredevil, Jessica Jones and upcoming Luke Cage, was given a $50 fine for crowding and obstruction before being released from police custody. According to The Guardian, the protesters had been warned multiple times by the U.S. Capitol police before they were finally taken into custody. Dawson is not expected to appear before court.
“I wanted personally to be in solidarity with the other folks who put themselves on the line and really just to bring attention to this because I think that’s just vitally important,” Dawson said of the event and following arrests.
The arrest followed the television and film actress’ participation in a week-long demonstration for Democracy Spring, a political activist group that demands “Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in our politics and ensure free and fair elections in which every American has an equal voice.”
According to the Sin City star, the police and protestors remained polite and calm during the arrest process, something she acknowledges as a rare experience with today’s strained police-protester relations.
“The police were really great with us, really lovely,” Dawson said. “I have to say that is not the case for so many people: Dreamers, Black Lives Matter activists, so many people are not seeing this kind of courageousness. I hope that officers across the nation can take heed of that and recognize that the peaceful protests that are going around the nation should also be treated in the same way as we are being treated today.”
The small run-in with Capitol Hill police didn’t slow the politically impassioned starlet down though. The very next day she was participating in another public demonstration in New York City that once again saw her coming out in support of democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.