Gyllenhaal is politically active . At the 18th Independent Spirit Awards in 2003 , she spoke out against the Iraq war , stating the reason for the invasion was " oil and imperialism " . In 2005 , Gyllenhaal drew controversy for her statement that the September 11 attacks were " an occasion to be brave enough to ask some serious questions about America 's role in the world ... It is always useful as individuals or nations to ask how we may have knowingly or unknowingly contributed to this conflict . " Gyllenhaal took part in Artists United to Win Without War , a campaign started by Robert Greenwald that aimed to advance progressive causes and voicing opposition to the Iraq War . She and her brother Jake filmed a commercial for Rock the Vote , and visited the University of Southern California ( USC ) campus to encourage students to vote in the 2004 U.S. presidential election , in which she supported John Kerry . Gyllenhaal supported Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election . She has campaigned on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) , an organization her family strongly supports
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Maggie Gyllenhaal