Prince Andrew’s accuser left a final handwritten message to abuse survivors before her death, stating it was time to “show the battlelines are drawn.”
The rallying call was shared on Instagram by Virginia Giuffre‘s brother, Sky Roberts, ahead of a protest by abuse survivors on April 30, Denim Day, in Washington, D.C.
Giuffre was among the most prominent women to accuse Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, and she also filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was forced in 2001 to have sex with Prince Andrew after being trafficked to London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prince Andrew denies the allegations.
Giuffre passed away on Friday, and her family said in a statement that she died by suicide.
Virginia Giuffre/Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Women’s Media Award
Virginia Giuffre’s Final Note
In the note, Giuffre wrote: “Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers need to show the battlelines are drawn and we stand together to fight for the future of victims.
“Is protesting the answer—I don’t know, but we’ve got to start somewhere.”
Sky Roberts wrote on Instagram: “Hello world. we received news today that there’s a protest in DC. We found a handwritten note that our sister Virginia wrote.
“I think it’s important that the survivors know that she’s with you and her voice will not be silenced. I know that it’s so important, and her wish is that we continue to fight.
“Her words are; ‘Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, and Brothers need to show the battle lines are drawn, and stand together to fight for the future of victims. Is protesting the answer? I dont know. But we’ve got to start somewhere.’
“To all survivors and those protesting. We stand with you in solidarity and know the fight is not over!”
The exact date Virginia wrote the note is not clear, but the Daily Mail reported it was found among her possessions at the home in Western Australia where she was found dead last week. Her words are being received as an endorsement of the D.C. protest.
The Denim Day Protest
A website for the Denim Day 5K run explains the event’s history: “Denim Day, observed annually on the last Wednesday in April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, stands as a powerful symbol of solidarity and awareness.
“The campaign began after a troubling ruling by the Italian Supreme Court, which overturned a rape conviction based on the victim’s tight jeans.
“The decision implied consent, sparking outrage. In response, the women of the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work the next day in support of the victim.”
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.
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