As the sun rises over the gold dome of
the Georgia capital building, hundreds of college students dawning black shirts
and armed with white roses, wait patiently in the halls for
their congressman.
Today, is lobby day in Georgia.
Lobby Day is a chance for constituents to tell their congressman what really matters to them. For these students, speaking up for those trapped by human trafficking is their primary concern.
Human trafficking is a 32 billion dollar a year industry worldwide, third in profit to drug and arms trafficking. It is just as real in America as it is in any other
country and is estimated that 17,000 people, mostly women
and children, are trafficked into the United States each year. Atlanta has increasingly become a hot-spot for sex trafficking with about 3,500 people
trafficked here each year.
country and is estimated that 17,000 people, mostly women
and children, are trafficked into the United States each year. Atlanta has increasingly become a hot-spot for sex trafficking with about 3,500 people
trafficked here each year.
In 2009, Theresa Flores brought a lot of attention to human trafficking in the U.S. with her story. At 15 years old, she was the victim of a sex traffic ring near
Detroit. By using threats, intimidation and blackmail her captors
forced her into prostitution. For two years she suffered while the
traffickers profited. She was lucky enough to escape and now, 25 years later she is speaking against human trafficking and works at GraceHaven to end domestic trafficking. The following is an excerpt from her book:
Detroit. By using threats, intimidation and blackmail her captors
forced her into prostitution. For two years she suffered while the
traffickers profited. She was lucky enough to escape and now, 25 years later she is speaking against human trafficking and works at GraceHaven to end domestic trafficking. The following is an excerpt from her book:
“Lukewarm water is filling the tub. It is a bathroom that is foreign to me, not in my own house. The sound of the flow of water exiting the faucet and streaming steadily into the tub hypnotizes me. I feel alien, as if I am outside my body, looking down upon myself. I see a young, naked, girl’s body in front of me. She is crying softly, being careful to do as she has been instructed and not make a sound. Her body is shaking with tremors, a rampant of emotions floods her as the water rises over her body. Fear of being discovered, shame of what has just happened, anger of what can not be undone.” –The Sacred Bath, An American Teen’s Story of Modern Day Slavery
Until issues like this are brought to the attention of the public, nothing will be done about it. These college students hope to be the beginning of change in the human trafficking industry. By lobbying for stricter legislation and harsher penalties for violators, America can be at the forefront of this issue. Events like this make it possible to change the lives of the thousands who are at risk for being trafficked and provide help for those who have already known it’s bondage. This link offers more information fort Lobby Day 2010 if you would like to get involved.
The following video is from Lobby Day 2009.
