Asheville, NC – September 3, 2025 —I am writing this as we await one of the most courageous press conferences of our time– the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring coming forward in the face of a system that has refused to listen. The strength needed for any of us to come forward and talk about the darkest moments of our lives requires strength, but these survivors’ commitment to speaking truth to power requires a level of tenacity that is awe worthy. For years, many of these voices were ignored, discredited, or erased by the very institutions that were supposed to protect them. Unfortunately, these are familiar patterns: people in positions of power accused of violence, public speculation swirling, and survivors left in the margins. We call for files. We search for flight logs. We pore over sealed court documents, hoping for truth to be revealed. But the survivors have been here all along telling their stories, often unheard. Why are we still waiting for files to validate what survivors have already said? Why are we afraid to ask the people who lived it? Why do we trust paperwork more than lived experience?
Our Voice stands with survivors when they speak the truth about their experience. The truth is there, with survivors, if we choose to listen.
Every day, we at Our Voice have the honor of bearing witness to survivors sharing the story of the worst moments of their lives. Some are unsure of what happened or whether anyone will believe them, especially when the person who harmed them holds power. But the courage it takes to speak up is unmatched. When met with trauma informed advocacy, healing begins. Transformational Justice becomes possible.
Believing survivors is not just a moral stance. It is a community strategy. It is how we dismantle systems of harm. It is how we teach future generations that safety, accountability, and truth telling matter more than status, wealth, or reputation. Believing survivors is a radical act of creating the just world we all want to live in.
At Our Voice, we are committed to showing up for survivors every single day. Without judgment. Without conditions. Always free of charge. But right now, that work is at risk.
In a time of amplified power-based violence, supporting survivors is not just a gesture of compassion. It is a stand for justice. It is an act of resistance. It is a way to build a future where the truth is not buried but honored, and where healing is always possible. Please consider advocating for a world free of sexual assault and human trafficking by contributing to Our Voice, you can donate here. Every dollar counts.
If you or someone you know needs support, please call (828) 255-7576. Our Crisis Line is open 24/7.
To learn more about the anti-power-based violence movement, how to end sexual assault and human trafficking, and for resources, support, and understanding, tune in to our podcast, Raising Our Voices, wherever you listen.