GAINESVILLE — A Gainesville resident is organizing a public demonstration later this month aimed at raising awareness about the case involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and showing support for survivors of sexual trafficking and abuse.
The event, titled the “March for Truth,” is scheduled for March 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Poultry Park in downtown Gainesville.
Organizer Tyler Neff said the gathering is intended to bring attention to documents and information commonly referred to as the “Epstein files” and to encourage continued public scrutiny of individuals connected to the case.
The event was initially planned as a march beginning on the downtown square and crossing the pedestrian bridge over Jesse Jewell Parkway. Neff said organizers later changed the plan because of safety concerns and potential traffic disruptions. The event is now planned as a stationary gathering at Poultry Park.
According to organizers, the demonstration is intended to support survivors who say they were trafficked and abused by Epstein and others connected to the case. Event organizers describe the gathering as a bipartisan effort meant to unite community members calling for transparency and accountability.
Epstein, a financier with connections to numerous high-profile figures, was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking involving underage girls. He died later that year while in custody at a federal jail in New York while awaiting trial.
Public attention on records connected to the case has continued in recent years as courts and lawmakers have reviewed documents related to Epstein and individuals who had contact with him.
Neff said he hopes the Gainesville event will help keep attention focused on the issue while showing support for survivors.