Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery Today?

Slavery? Today? In the 21st century? That can’t be happening, right? Wrong. Slavery still happens all over the world in the form of human trafficking. This $32 billion business exploits humans and takes away basic rights. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and many organizations are trying to stop human trafficking because human trafficking devalues human life, and permanently damages victims.
The dictionary definition of human trafficking is, “the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation”(dictionary.com 1). The simplified version of that is human trafficking is modern day slavery. Human trafficking happens everywhere, and it is similar to what
The main reasons are sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is forcing women using threats and other forms of coercion to be exploited sexually. The main way women, and sometimes teenage girls, get tricked into this form of human trafficking isthrough their boyfriend using them and getting kidnapped. Many times, women will get tricked by their boyfriends. Their boyfriends will say that they love them, then sell them into a human trafficking ring. Also, human traffickers often just kidnap their victims. They will grab women and teenage girls from the streets while walking home from concerts, school, and
In an interview with Mrs. Spiker, a captain of Love Runs, she was able to tell me about this local charity. Love Runs is a charity that was created two to three years ago by Northridge Church, the church that Mrs. Spiker attends. According to Mrs. Spiker, “The cool part about Love Runs is that all the money we (Love runs) raises is distributed to local groups in Detroit”. These “Ridge runners” (what runners for Love Runs are called) run races with shirts with the charity logo to bring awareness about human trafficking. Also, according to Mrs. Spiker, “Anyone can join Love Runs. You don’t need to be a member of our church (Northridge), you don’t even have to go to church, or be a runner... if you have a heart for the cause, you can join”. People can join and help Love Runs by going online to loveruns.org and donating money, or signing up to join and run in the races. Finally, Mrs. Spiker said what the most rewarding part of being part of Love Runs is. Mrs. Spiker said, “Knowing that what you are doing has a direct impact on someone’s life”. That is what she said is the most rewarding part, and she also encourages anyone who, has a heart for the cause, to join and support Love Runs.