Believe Survivors Press Conference, Remarks from Patti Giggans

It is powerful to be here together — leaders, advocates, survivors, and community members — united by a shared commitment: to support survivors, to believe survivors, and to end sexual and domestic violence in all its forms. Today is not just a press conference, it is a call to action, a reminder of the challenges still before us, and the promise that our solidarity will bring us the energy and the hope to continue building our shared vision of a world free from violence. 

For more than five decades, we have been building this movement — originally called the violence against women movement, sometimes now called the gender-based violence movement, sometimes the violence prevention movement. Whatever we call it, one truth remains the same: this movement has always been built by advocates and allies by listening to survivors, educating the public, and transforming systems to be trauma informed, humanity friendly and survivor centered.

That is what brings us together today, alongside Supervisor Hilda Solis, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, and our partners — CAST, CPAF, Strength United, the YWCA of Greater LA, the Santa Monica/UCLA Rape Treatment Center, East LA Women’s Center, Valley Oasis, Project Sister Family Services, the Survivor Justice Center, the Downtown Women’s Center — and so many more. Together, we form a coalition of care and accountability.

And yet, here we are in 2025 — still fighting to break through shame and silence. Still pushing back against lies and misinformation. Still demanding that survivors’ voices be heard and respected.

Earlier this week, the Jeffrey Epstein survivors’ press conference in Washington, DC was a stark reminder -once again- that testimonies matter. Survivors must be heard, not silenced. They must be believed, not dismissed. The courage of more than 100 victim/survivors of the Epstein/Maxwell treachery — many abused as children, at ages 14, 15, and 16 — is both heartbreaking and inspiring. When I heard their public statements on camera “I was 14 when I met them, … I was 16.. I was 17…” This was stunning for these adult women to reflect on how old they were when they were tricked, deceived, manipulated, betrayed, and groomed. 

They were children— adolescents. And now, as adults pursuing truth and justice, asking for transparency and accountability, they are once again in the media and social media, amidst the politics of our time, being subjected to humiliation and doubt. Their stories remind us that while sexual assault can happen to anyone at any age - and it does -  young people are most at risk. We must affirm: all survivors deserve respect and to be heard. An important way to support survivors is to be vigilant against defamation and disinformation. 

But while survivors speak out, the very spaces they need for safety and healing are under attack. Here in Los Angeles, amidst the raids by immigration enforcement, ICE officers have stationed themselves outside our offices in the Westlake area of downtown. Imagine what that means for immigrant survivors — already traumatized, already unsure of who they can trust — too afraid to walk through the doors of a rape crisis/domestic violence center. This is unacceptable. Survivors deserve safe spaces to heal, without fear of detention or deportation.

Recently, one of our clients - a woman who played by the rules, reported domestic abuse, applied for a VAWA petition. ICE went to her home looking for her husband, the abuser, who was no longer there. Five days later, they showed up at her workplace, and took her. They had been surveilling her, picked her up, and she is now in detention in Adelante, while her young daughter is here alone.  There are so many stories like this. 

Meanwhile, our funding is under siege. Across the country, our centers are being defunded and destabilized. Federal support that has sustained this work for decades is now eliminated or at risk, threatening the very services survivors rely on and the organizations that we have built. This is an existential moment for our movement - and perhaps for our country.

But we are not backing down. Not now, not ever.

We know the courage it takes to tell our stories — and we know healing begins when someone listens. To survivors, I say this: when you are ready, tell one trusted person your story. If the first person cannot hear you, try again. Don’t give up. Speaking your truth, even to one person, can be the first step toward healing. And to all of us: be that person. The one who listens, who believes, who supports, who does not judge. Be that person. Because believing survivors is where justice begins.

So today, I stand in appreciation for every leader, advocate, and partner doing this work. Together, we support healing, justice, education, and accountability. And together, even amidst the challenges and risks, we remain united in our commitment: to believe survivors, to support survivors, and to end violence.

Thank you.