WASHINGTON, D.C. April 26, 2026 — Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and activists gathered on the National Mall near the White House on Saturday, April 25, 2026, for a “Butterfly Vigil” honoring Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the late convicted sex offender’s most prominent accusers. The event marked the one-year anniversary of Giuffre’s death by suicide at age 41 in Neergabby, Western Australia.
Giuffre was a key advocate for sex-trafficking survivors. Her lawsuits and public testimony against Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and others — including a settled civil case against Prince Andrew — helped drive investigations, document releases, and greater accountability in the high-profile case. Her posthumously published memoir, Nobody’s Girl, detailed her experiences and called for justice for victims.
The vigil featured a symbolic dance performance by several women in leotards and blindfolds, who moved in front of large white banners displaying line-art drawings of women intertwined with butterflies and flowers. Attendees, many wearing butterfly pins and carrying floral tributes, watched as the performers symbolized themes of trauma, survival, and transformation.
Epstein survivors Laura Blume-McGee and Anouska de Georgiou addressed the crowd from a podium. Blume-McGee, wearing a white blazer adorned with golden butterfly pins, and de Georgiou, in a black cardigan with a large blue fascinator and butterfly brooch, spoke about Giuffre’s legacy and the ongoing fight for justice.
Crowd members held signs reading “RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES,” urging full disclosure of remaining documents related to the case. Family members, including Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts and sister-in-law Amanda Roberts, participated in speeches and a group embrace at the conclusion of the event.
The gathering blended performance, poetry, music, and calls to action, with organizers emphasizing Giuffre’s shift “from pain into purpose” and her love of butterflies as a symbol of hope and metamorphosis for survivors of gender-based violence.
Giuffre’s death in April 2025 came after years of advocacy that contributed to Epstein’s conviction and Maxwell’s imprisonment. The vigil took place as recent Justice Department document releases have renewed public scrutiny of the Epstein network. Organizers and attendees stressed that Giuffre’s name and work “will not be forgotten.”
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