January is a special month for the anti-slavery movement and Free the Slaves. It is trafficking awareness month, and there is a wide range of actions you can take to make a difference around the world.
It’s also an important month in U.S. history: Congress gave final passage to the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution 150 years ago this month, making slavery illegal.
And last, but not least, January kicks off the 15th anniversary year for Free the Slaves!
Here are simple steps you can take to make January a month of action:
- Spread the word that slavery still exists but can be overcome. Tell everyone you know. Play a Free the Slaves video where you work or study or worship to start a discussion. Pick a Free the Slaves book for your book club. Check out our teaching and activities and case study guides for classroom projects, and our slavery in history timeline for student research papers. Visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed, then like or follow us, share our posts and tweets, and join the conversation. Visit the National Archives online for details on the 13th Amendment.
- Find out if there’s slavery in your shopping cart, investment portfolio or products. Visit knowthechain.org to see which companies are working to eliminate slavery from their products. If you work in a company’s purchasing unit, see our Becoming A Slavery-Free Business video to learn how to keep slavery-tainted materials out of your product supply chains. Be a mindful consumer, investor or corporation.
- Raise funds for the movement any way you can. See our personal fundraising guide to learn how you can get a micro-campaign going in your community.
Download our Taking Action to End Slavery guide for even more ideas. We will have more details for you as the year unfolds about our 15th anniversary as an organization.
We thank you for your continuing support, and we begin 2015 filled with energy and optimism. Together, we will conquer slavery.
