OPINION: The Epstein Files and What Justice Looks Like to Us

By Sofia Lamdichi | March 3, 2026

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Every day when someone opens up a social media application, they are exposed to tons of information all at once. When one is exposed to complex material without unpacking the gravity of what it is being said, more harm may be done than good.

This becomes evident when examining public responses to reported human rights abuses affecting Palestinians, Sudanese communities, and Uyghurs, among others. We don’t have to look overseas to see this pattern. We are witnessing the same lack of genuine reaction as the Epstein files are being released. 

Many have taken to social media to proclaim “what’s the point?” and “nothing will be done anyway,” which is the same reaction people seem to have to most human suffering. Taking action or speaking up against horrible things being committed against human beings should not be something reserved to the “overly woke.” It is our duty as fellow humans to defend those who cannot defend themselves. It is up to us to be the army we expect to see appear when monstrosities occur. 

The mass public ignorance and lack of justice being provided for those we allegedly want to see freed, has led me to wonder: what does the path of justice look like to us?

University at Albany students have differing views regarding the answer to this question. 

For example, sophomore Udochi Uzoaru believes:

“The path of justice would be hiring new enforcement officers. Ones that are given the correct training and know how to properly do their job, by targeting real criminals like our president and not innocent civilians. I imagine justice being people getting held accountable for their crimes instead of it being overlooked because they are in high ranking positions in the government.”

Udochi is not the only person who believes that the path towards justice will start from those with more administrative power making better decisions. What many unfortunately neglect is that seeing change in administrative positions and their hiring/training standards cannot happen without pressure from the public and voting for those who will ensure changes are made. 

One cannot expect the person who created the handcuffs to also create the key to unlock them, when nobody asks for the key. People of all ages, who are able to organize and use their voice, are part of the army needed to fight for justice whether they accept it or not. Let us build a future where justice is achievable. We always have the power to do so.