When people learn that slavery still exists, even in the United States, they’re often compelled to take action. That’s why January is filled with gatherings, vigils, services and seminars to remind us that slavery in America hasn’t ended.
“Thinking slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation is like thinking adultery stopped with the Ten Commandments,” notes Free the Slaves President Kevin Bales.
Tuesday, January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the entire month of January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
It takes a movement to free a slave, and you can help to build the movement right now with one simple step. Share this link for our animated video “Top Ten Facts about the ‘S’ Word” (also shown below) with your friends, family, coworkers or fellow students. We can end slavery if everyone does their part. Spread the word:
Here’s a listing of events across America. Please post other events if you know about them.
- New York City: New York Anti-Trafficking Network is putting on a panel discussion on modern slavery at the Urban Justice Center.
- Los Angeles: Freedom Walk (with our ATEST partner Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking).
- Washington, DC: DC Human Trafficking Task Force (of which another ATEST partner Polaris Project is a member) will hold an awareness event at the Wizards-Kings basketball game at the Verizon Center.
- Cincinnati, Ohio: The Power of 1 event. Guest speakers, live music, video screenings and more. Free the Slaves friend Paul Bernish of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Ohio will be a featured speaker.
- Raleigh, NC: Two organizations (North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking, NC Stop Human Trafficking) are putting on a “Community Awareness Event” January 10.
- Tennessee: Eight Tennessee NGOs will take part in the “Power of One” campaign, in which anti-slavery supporters will wear white, take photos of themselves, and send it to Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking. CCAHT will put the best photos into a video montage and feature it on their website.
- Jacksonville, Florida: A screening of an anti-slavery documentary followed by Q & A with northeast Florida-based anti-slavery organizations—including Free the Slaves friends Made by Survivors.
- Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Rescue and Restore is holding an educational event for service providers, law enforcement, faith-based communities “and all other community members.” An educational film followed by a panel discussion.
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: Tulsa has been described as one of the 10 worst cities for human trafficking. For Human Trafficking Awareness Day, a networking event will be held at the Agora Coffeehouse, featuring activists and representatives from anti-slavery organizations.
