Human Trafficking Hits Home

On October 20, 2010 deputies stated that a Ft. Myers Woman had turned her children into prostitutes and beat and starved them if they did not buy her drugs. Reports say that she beat the four young girls with a hammer, wire hangers, a belt and even urinated on them. "The data that I've been trained on suggests that domestic minor sex trafficking is probably the largest problem in America today," said Det. Mike Zaleski of the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

Nola Theiss, Founder and Executive Director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships reports that 1% of the children are kidnapped, while 30% are trafficked by family members. The Polaris Project, a non-profit anti-trafficking organization in Washington, DC stated that according to the U.S. Dept. of State's 2007 Trafficking in persons Report, approximately 27 million people are victims of modern-day slavery around the world.

Human trafficking is something that most Americans do not realize is such a big issue, but it is becoming an increasing problem in our own neighborhoods. "It's a terrible term, but common in trade," said Lt. Mike Eson, of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. This is a growing epidemic that needs to be acknowledged by the U.S. government. Action must take place within our communities.

Please join Be Her Freedom, an initiative against human trafficking in order to raise awareness, bring solutions and make a united stand against the unacceptable crime of human trafficking. You can help by participating this Saturday, November 6 in Jacksonville for their 5-mile run or 1-mile walk beginning at 7:30 a.m. for the run and 7:45 a.m. for the walk. Registration will begin at 6 a.m.





-Martina Marcuccilli