‘Shining in her honor’: Vigil held for Virginia Giuffre, abuse survivors on National Mall

For the last year, Virginia Giuffre’s loved ones have mourned the loss of the mother of three who was a prominent survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse.

In that time, her loved ones and supporters have been on the front lines calling for accountability for those who were involved.

“We will not stop,” Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, said at the vigil. “Virginia right now would say this: ‘I would not stop until justice is served.’”

Supporters showed up for a daylight candlelight butterfly vigil Saturday afternoon on the National Mall centering survivors of gender-based violence along with Giuffre, who was one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein and his enablers.

“They know what they did and we know what they did, and only one of us is telling the truth, and we know that’s us,” Roberts said.

Other abuse survivors have credited Giuffre with giving them the strength and resilience to share their stories.

“Virginia’s courage opened up the door for all of us to be seen and heard,” Lisa Phillips, an Epstein survivor, said. “We will keep shining in her honor, knowing her light is guiding us.”

Giuffre died by suicide last year. Before her passing, she offered critical information to law enforcement that contributed to the investigation into and later conviction of Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Survivors of Epstein’s abuse, along with lawmakers and some Trump supporters, have called for the publication of all documents related to the case. Congress passed the Epstein files transparency act last November to force the release of the files.

As Giuffre’s loved ones, along with survivors, seek justice for those who played a role in the abuse, they are remembering the woman who played a vital role in allowing others to come forward.

“I am grateful every day that she was born and that she left this world knowing what truly mattered,” Anouska De Georgiou, an Epstein survivor, said. “To care for the people you love and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”