Following the 2023 release of the movie, Sound of Freedom, there was an increase in national awareness and dialog surrounding sex trafficking of minors. This year there have been numerous reports on cable and national news outlets about the over 320,000 unaccompanied children who have crossed our southern border unaccompanied and unaccounted for. It is also reported that these children are being exploited through sex and labor trafficking. This begs the question, where is the outrage? The hearts of every American should be broken, torn apart in grief for these children and the unspeakable injustices they endure. Could it be that we, as a nation, as a church, as a community have become desensitized? Do we see this as a distant problem? Do we shrug our shoulders and simply say “there is nothing I can do?” We see so many commercials about starving or abused dogs. When was the last time you saw a commercial fighting for the exploited, abused, and forgotten children? Many have been brought into our country to be used for profit at the hands of traffickers/perpetrators and many are home grown right here in the United States.
Everyone must see City of Dreams, just released in August 2024 and available on many streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime. City of Dreams is one of the hardest movies I have ever watched. It was so difficult to sit through because I know what is depicted on the big screen is real and it is happening in communities across this nation. It portrays the cruelty, horrendous abuse and exploitation of these missing children endure. Many, if not most, are exposed to both labor and sex trafficking. Unfortunately, far too often people I talk to don’t imagine themselves getting involved or having any impact. I ask every reader to make yourself watch this movie and then ask yourself, “is there anything I can do to combat this injustice, to be a voice for the voiceless, to help rescue these kids?” The purpose of this blog is to provide you with some tips and resources to help you learn more and, in-turn, to get involved. It’s a call to become modern day abolitionists in the fight against human trafficking, especially Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. (DMST).
Here are a few suggestions to help you learn more and find where you can get involved.
- Fight to end pornography. Child Sexual Abuse Material is ubiquitous. Access online has exploded. If you or a loved one is consuming pornography, get help, seek counseling. By viewing you are purchasing sexual abuse content for your own pleasure. It is not victim less. You are complicit in exploiting these kids, at the same time you are harming yourself and those you love. Watch the documentary entitled, Brain, Heart, World. , produced by an organization called “Fight the New Drug”. It is not explicit but is based on science and truth. If you are a parent, I would recommend you view it with your middle school, high school and/or college age kids. Then talk about it openly and honestly.
- Look for and attend a local human trafficking task force. In Colorado Springs you can attend the monthly Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado meeting. They meet the second Tuesday of every month at 5:45 pm, at 615 Wooten Rd., Suite 140, COS. The meetings are open to the public with the goal of educating and networking among concerned citizens and local organizations involved in anti-trafficking efforts.
- Here are a few helpful links to educate yourself your family, students colleagues at work, church, and/or community. You can find resources, request a speaker or just learn more. All of these are involved in one way or another in prevention through education/awareness, restoration (helping expand services for survivors), influencing legislative initiatives, and supporting law enforcement. In addition, once you learn about all that these wonderful organizations do, contribute to one, or more, to help us all end modern day slavery. There are many more great organizations across the USA. We all need your support in the battle against evil.
Some of my favorite sites to go to:
- Shared Hope International
- Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado
- Sarah’s Home/Daniel Academy (residential homes for girls and boys who have escaped sex trafficking)
- Reclaiming Hope
- The Exodus Road
- A21
- Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking
- Polaris Project
- National Center on Sexual Exploitation
National TIP Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
Colorado Hotline: 866-455-5075 Text “Help” 720-999-9724
Watch City of Dreams and Sound of Freedom. Then get involved. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, a human rights crisis…a travesty beyond words, beyond imagination.