Little would William Wilberforce have thought, when he won parliament’s approval to end slavery in England in 1807, that 200 years later, human trafficking – a term for modern-day slavery -- would be a $32 billion industry worldwide with more than 27 million people enslaved.
Little would Abraham Lincoln have thought, when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, that almost 150 years later, human trafficking would have been reported in all 50 states and specifically in 91 cities (Free the Slaves) … that numbers of trafficked victims in the United States are estimated in the hundreds of thousands, both with internally trafficked men, women and children as well as the U.S. State Department estimate of 14,500-17,500 foreign nationals trafficked into the United States each year … that trafficking purposes would include commercial sex, agricultural work, house-keeping or stripping (Polaris Project).
Abuse, whether through human trafficking, in the home, on the streets, or some other arena ... abuse, whether
physical or sexual ... abuse, whether of child or adult, male or female, needs to be stopped.
Human exploitation, of any kind, anywhere, needs to end … whether it’s the horror of human trafficking or the more common
practices of inequity and the use or abuse of another person to achieve personal gain or desires.
Every case involves injustice. Every case results in loss, pain and harm. Every case needs to be exposed, investigated and rectified.
Injustice is a global problem, and it will take a global effort and constant vigilance to keep it in check. Injustice occurs daily, worldwide, but it can also be as immediate as now and as local as your workplace, your neighborhood, your family. It touches us all.
There’s work to be done educationally, legally, practically, to stop injustice.
If you’d like to aid in the rescue and restoration of those who’ve been enslaved, abused, molested and oppressed, Chapter 61 Ministries, a 501(c)3, tax-deductable, organization, is one way to get involved.
He pounds the hammer day after day,
driving the hurt and the demons away.
She clutches her arms so close to her skin,
trying to rid his dirt and his sin.
Anger does fly, claws are unsheathed,
beaten for greed, they're never reprieved.
He pounds the hammer day after day,
driving the hurt and the demons away.
Open your eyes and see what is real.
The wounds and the pain, just reach out and feel.
Brothers and sisters, take up the charge.
We' re small individuals but together we' re large.
Slavery can be stopped cold in its tracks,
if only their burden we'll place on our backs.
Anger does fly, claws are unsheathed,
justice and mercy can offer reprieve.
While we sit in our homes, with our ears firmly plugged,
they're raped and they're tortured, by murderous thugs.
Slavery's past, we repeat to ourselves,
while children are sold on proverbial shelves.
Anger does fly, claws are unsheathed,
beaten for greed, they're never reprieved.
I'm only one person, there's naught I can do,
How easily the lies have replaced what is true.
You can stand up and fight, be the voice for the lost,
And work to end slavery regardless of cost,
to your time, to your pocket, to your own peace of mind.
It's His call and His voice crying out to the blind.
Anger does fly, claws are unsheathed,
beaten for greed, they're never reprieved.
