What society’s fixation with Epstien says about how far we are from eradicating human trafficking. — A Misguided Preoccupation Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes were nothing short of heinous. Yet, in an America where young girls are groomed, manipulated and trafficked every single day, Epstein’s crimes were sadly nothing new. So why has Epstein dominated headlines for months now? To understand the public’s fixation with Epstein, we must…

Rachel’s Story In Rachel Lloyd’s memoir, Girls Like Us, Lloyd discusses how experiences in her life made her vulnerable to human trafficking. Throughout her childhood, Lloyd dealt with various adverse experiences. She spent her childhood with an alcoholic mother and an alcoholic step-father who became angry and abusive when he…

TRIGGER WARNING — This article includes references to physical and sexual violence experienced by a human trafficking survivor. Alexis Martin’s Story Alexis Martin is a trafficking survivor who has lived through unimaginable trauma. Before the age of 15, she lived through bouts of homelessness, parents who were addicts, and was placed in the foster care system while her mother was incarcerated. She was sexually abused starting when she…

Martha’s Story — Martha Gonzalez fled Mexico in an act of desperation. She was trying to escape an abusive relationship when she decided to pay coyotes to help get her and her daughter across the border. As with so many others who feel they have no option but to seek safety in the…

Hidden Faces A young Latina mother rises before the sun each morning to prepare for a 12 hour shift. She’ll spend that day working in a dimly lit factory that is covered in dust. Inside the factory, stacks of boxes block fire exits and because there is no air-conditioning, the…

By: Mira Seyal Justice for survivors and their families begins with honoring the humanity of those who died. The Atalanta victims weren’t just case-in-point examples of racism and misogyny in America, they were mothers, friends, co-workers and daughters . One was known for her incredible work ethic as a massage…

By: Jamie Beck I was scrolling through Instagram the other night when a TikTok video caught my eye. It was a video of a young girl, she couldn’t have been more than 12 years old, wearing a very sexy outfit saying “small waist, pretty face, with a big bank.” It…

By: Mira Seyal Although February’s surge of Black History Month content has begun to fade, racism has not. In many ways, Black History Month is a beautiful celebration of Black history and culture. It is also used to raise awareness and ask important questions about race in America. The annual…

Written By: Mira Seyal A response to law enforcement’s recent encounter with 33 missing children found in Los Angeles. On January 23, 2021, NBC reported that 33 missing children were “ rescued in a Los Angeles trafficking operation.” Several of the survivors had been trafficked in the past and 8…