Epstein survivor to speak at Ann Arbor survivor empowerment rally
A Jeffery Epstein survivor is expected to speak at the University of Michigan next week during a Standing Tough Against Rape Society (STARS) rally to empower survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
Jena-Lisa Jones plans to share her story as an Epstein survivor and now survivor advocate at this year’s Take Back the Night Ann Arbor event hosted by STARS on April 2.
Jones was 14 when she was trafficked to Epstein’s Palm Beach home by a friend, Jones said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday, March 24.
“People like to think that he was like prowling the streets looking for all of us, but he actually had other younger girls hunting for other girls to bring,” Jones said. “And it came with stipulations and his control and manipulation.”
Jones said in her case with Epstein, “It wasn’t supposed to be anything but a massage, and that’s how it was explained, and that’s how he manipulated and got control and offering money.”
Its important for families to talk to their kids about situations when people, including their friends, ask them to do something they don’t want to do, even when its in exchange for something they do want, such as money or a video game, Jones said.
“This is where the talks come in, and even with friendships and all of that,” she said. “You want your friends to like you or you don’t want to be left out or something or things like that. Having those boundaries and being able to stay strong in who you are (is important.)”
Jones said she has felt support from her fellow “survivor sisters.” She said it’s important for survivors to find at least one person they can trust and lean on.
“You don’t need this whole team of survivors to have support,” she said. “I have been blessed to have multiple survivor sisters in the scenario that I’ve been in, but I just think it’s important just for anybody to have at least one person that supports you, especially if you’ve gone through something like this.”
Jones has been a public advocate for releasing the Epstein filesspeaking on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and working with congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The act was passed on Nov. 19, 2025. There are still about 2.5 million unreleased documentsCNN reported on March 19. About half of the 6 million total files will not be released because they “contain child pornography, deliberative internal process and attorney-client privileged information, duplicate information or unrelated material,” NPR reported in January.
Jena-Lisa Jones holds a photo of herself as a child while she speaks about her experience as a Jeffrey Epstein survivor.
Jones said she often speaks up and advocates for survivors, and the STARS Take Back the Night Ann Arbor event will be her first time speaking at a university.
“I thought it would be a beautiful thing to come and support and get to be around the community and the younger generation and show some empowerment and encouragement to them,” Jones said.
More: Epstein declared bankrupt Detroit ‘desperate,’ worth experimenting in
More: Parents sought Jeffrey Epstein’s help to get kids into U-M, records show
The Take Back the Night Ann Arbor event on April 2 will be held at University of Michigan’s Ballroom, 530 State Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the rally starts at 7 p.m. with a march to follow, according to a news release from STARS.
The event will feature a vocal performance by Audra Kubat, dance by Sophia VonStardust and Ballet Folklorico de Metztli and poetry by Ber-Henda Williams, according to a news release from STARS. Organizations including SafeHouse Center and Planned Parenthood will be in attendance.
Participants will then march through the streets of Ann Arbor to bring awareness about sexual violence to the community and return to the ballroom for a candlelight vigil in solidarity for those affected by sexual violence, according to the news release.
The event is free and open to the public. Participants can register here.
Jones said she wants survivors to know they are loved and cherished.
“The shame is not for us to carry. It’s for the predators to carry,” she said. “You’re voice matters, and just stay strong because there is hundreds and thousands of women and men out there that have gone through similar things and support you, even if you don’t know them.”
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Epstein survivor to share her story at UM survivor empowerment rally
DOCUMENTED REFERENCES
Exploring Documented Records
Public interest in the Epstein case continues not only because of court proceedings and testimonies, but also due to the growing body of documented records that help researchers and readers understand the broader context. Beyond legal files and media reports, some independent projects have organized publicly available data connected to Epstein’s activities.
One example is a structured archive of documented Amazon order records, where purchases are cataloged with dates and product details. While individual items do not prove wrongdoing on their own, examining documented information alongside established facts helps paint a clearer picture of the environment and circumstances surrounding the case.
Browse the structured archive of documented order records
For readers looking to review primary-source style data rather than interpretations, exploring compiled records can provide additional context to the broader discussion.
