“Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man’s nature – opposition to it, in his love of justice,” President Lincoln said in an 1854 speech. This weekend, President Lincoln’s Cottage has partnered with Polaris Project to launch an exhibit that will open people’s eyes to the realities of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Can You Walk Away? Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in the United States is part of a year-long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was developed at Lincoln’s Cottage.
I was able to attend a preview event of the exhibit, where Erin Carlson Mast, the Director of President Lincoln’s Cottage explained that the Cottage has an obligation to explore the modern impact of Lincoln’s presidency and his ideas. Looking at how slavery manifests today is a key element of that. “Plenty of Americans see slavery as an issue that was resolved during the Civil War or by the 13th Amendment in the war’s aftermath, not as a growing humanitarian crisis,” said Mast.
I was involved in some of the exhibit planning, but I still found myself moved by the exhibit. I walked into a dark room, and was immediately introduced to the issue with video footage of interviews with survivors. After watching a woman explain how she was forced into domestic servitude in Falls Church, VA, or a girl describe how she was forced into the commercial sex trade, I then saw three books along the wall, each illuminated by a single spotlight. These books explain: What is modern slavery? Who is vulnerable? How do we end human trafficking?
After reading this information, I could then tear off a card attached to the wall to learn how I can personally help combat trafficking. Some of these actions include reporting a tip to the national human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888, sending a postcard to President Obama or signing up for the email lists of Polaris Project and President Lincoln’s Cottage. It’s rare for a museum to have such an interactive piece – visitors can actually remove something from the display itself! And it’s definitely my favorite aspect of the exhibit.
At the preview, Polaris Project Executive Director Bradley Myles expressed his appreciation for being invited by Lincoln’s Cottage to partner on this exhibit. He then described why so many people consider human trafficking a modern form of slavery. “Those who traffic vulnerable people for profit are actively looking to take away that person’s freedom. They use force, fraud and coercion to manipulate people into the sex trade, to work in factories and fields, to become domestic servants.”
According to the UN, at least 12 million people are held against their will in compelled service across the globe. While Mast acknowledged that there are clear differences in slavery past and present, she also emphasized that, “Fundamentally, the same issue is at stake: People’s right to freedom.”
Bradley Myles said he hoped visitors will understand that they are an important part of the solution. He outlined some of the progress that has already been made in recent years. President Obama named January Human Trafficking Awareness Month. In 2000, Congress passed the first federal law against human trafficking. Forty-eight states now have criminal laws against trafficking. And of course, our own hotline has helped some 5,500 trafficking survivors connect to services all over the country.
“Doing this work for the past ten years, we have learned that when we show people the realities of what victims of human trafficking face every day, it is nearly impossible to walk away without wanting to join the growing movement to fight these human rights abuses,” said Myles.
You can visit the exhibit at the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center at President Lincoln’s Cottage during their hours of operation: 9:30am-4:30pm Mon-Sat, 10:30am-4:30pm Sunday. Tours of the Lincolns Cottage itself are available on the hour.
For more information on President Lincoln’s Cottage, visit: www.lincolncottage.org.
I believe the exhibit is a great idea. And, I truely have since trying to get people on board and take action against this battle, that people just don’t know the facts as to what, where, and who this is happening. They think it’s just something that happens somewhere else, and have no idea of the magnitude or the goings on to these innocent young victims, also the older one too. Since, first seeing the lifetime documentary some years back on this issue, I, also would have never thought that this could be happening in the US, nonetheless anywhere else. Not like this anyway. This is an industry folks. A huge organized, criminal industry, that tortures, demeans, among others, a huge amount of young children. Children who are so young should be playing with dolls, and believing in the ferry princess, playing jumprope, swinging on swings, going with parents to the park to play, having their moms and/or dad’s reassure them when they go to sleep at night and they’re afraid of the dark because monsters could be under their beds. And mom and dad, look under that bed with them and reassure them, that there are no monsters. See baby? I told you I would never let anything or anyone hurt you. Mommy and/or daddy will always keep you safe and promise you don’t need to be afraid of any monsters. Mommy and daddy will always protect and keep you safe. I love you sweetie. Sweet dreams. These kids put all there trust in that and they know as long as mommy and daddy are there for them as they should be, it reassures them, everything will be ok.
Well, in fact, there are monsters, and way to many of them, they just might not be under their beds. Our children are not safe anywhere anymore.
My point is, SHOW THE HORRORS OF THE DAY TO DAY LIVES WHEN A CHILD IS TRAFFICKED INTO THE SEX SLAVE INDUSTRY AND SHOW FOOTAGE OF TRAFFICKED KIDS BEING FORCED TO WORK AS SEX SLAVES AND WHAT THEY ARE FORCED TO DO. PEOPLE DON’T LISTEN. THEY NEED TO SEE THIS. AND IF THERE IS ONE PERSON OUT THERE, THAT WOULD AGREE TO SIT AND WATCH LIVE FOOTAGE OF A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TRAFFICKED YOUNG CHILD, IF THEY HAD TO THINK TWICE AS TO JOINING AND DOING ANYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP, THEN LET ME TELL YOU, THAT PERSON IS JUST AS SCARY AS THE TRAFFICKERS, PREDATORS, AND ALL THE SICK, EVIL MINDED, DIMENTED MONSTERS THAT WALK THIS EARTH AND PREY ON OUR CHILDREN. I WOULD GET THEM OFF THE STREETS AS WELL.
POLARIS PROJECT, U R ONE AMAZING ORGANIZATION, AND I, FOR ONE, WANT TO SEE MORE ACTUAL FOOTAGE BROADCASTED FOR ANYONE TO SEE. I KNOW THIS WOULD GET MANY MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION. SO, HOW DO I HELP DO THIS IN MY AREA? I HAVE SAID THIS FROM THE FIRST TIME I WAS AWARE OF IT. YOU WATCH THE DESPICABLE, HORRORS THESE KIDS GO THROUGH AND YOU DONT’ WANT ME TO SEE YOU TURN YOUR HEAD AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY. YOU WOULD BE TELLING ME, U, ALSO ARE EVIL, AND I, FOR ONE, DON’T WANT TO BREATH THE SAME AIR AS YOU. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO POLARIS PROJECT? YOU KNOW I AM WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. SORRY THIS WAS SO LONG, BUT YOU PEOPLE NEED TO BECOME AWARE OF THESE PEOPLE MAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR PROFIT FROM COMPLETELY TERRORIZING AND DESTROYING THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN BY THE DEVILS WAY. DEMONIC. STOP IGNORING THE SITUATION AND AT LEAST WATCH AND THEN LET US KNOW YOUR REACTION. THANK YOU
Dear North Star
I admire & respect your work. I am writing with a question a bit off topic though, a question appropriate I believe for public disclosure.
Do you know who printed the “Can You Walk Away?” poster above? I have a strong suspicion who did, and if the real printer is who I have in mind, then your readers would do well to view more of his work. It jibes very neatly with many of the important issues and worthwhile causes you address here in this blog.
Keep up the fine work. Thank you.