“Young women and children raped, tortured and sold for sex – its modern day slavery and it’s happening here in Jacksonville.
In fact, the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights says Florida has one of the highest rates of “human trafficking” in the country. Barred windows and locked doors are the only visible signs of America’s modern day slave trade.
“Anna†is one of the lucky ones, one of the thousands of victims of human trafficking to escape her captors in Atlanta.
“I couldn’t keep taking all of the beatings for forever,†she says. “They were going to have to kill me sooner or later.”
Traffickers use torture, threats and brainwashing to sell women, men and children into domestic servitude, for sweat shop labor and for sex.”
“Special Agent Jeffrey Wescott says where traffickers get their victims may surprise you.
“These are kids from the suburbs and middle class America,†he says. “Sometimes it’s a kid with low self esteem, who may be enticed by someone who wants to befriend her.”
Anna was just 12 when she was locked up, beaten and sold for sex. She says it was hard to break free, because she was always constantly watched and forever on the move.” (more–article dated 2/21/06)
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May 7th, 2006 at 9:16 am
I know in law there is always an “investigation” process but at some point the majority of the people have to police themselves. I’m one who believes that crime is only a small portion of the society in which we live as a whole but it gets so much coverage you begin to think its everywhere. I have been the weak minded easy to influence person but I always had a quality perception of myself and where I want to go in life and I think that matters more than letting yourself fall into victimization. We have to take a stand in our lives and not allow ourselves to be victimized.
May 8th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Brian wrote: “but it gets so much coverage you begin to think its everywhere.”
JL: True. I have a study that compares the rate of crime on COPS and similar police shows WITH the actual crime rate…and it is much lower.
However, many crimes, particularly hate crimes, are greatly under-reported…because cities are more interested in protecting their perception
by tourists.
John L.