Sex trafficking is not often considered an American problem. All too often, countries such as the Philippines or Mexico seem to be the focus of anti-slavery groups. However, sex slavery is not just limited to foreign locales.
Freedom 21, an Auburn-based charity, has been working for the past two and a half years to raise awareness to the troubling amount of sex trafficking in the United States. Their goal is to completely abolish slavery in the 21st century.
Teresa Carden, Freedom 21 executive committee member, said, "Your perception is it's overseas in places like Europe and Asia, and I was absolutely shocked to learn the number on hub for sex trafficking in the United States is Atlanta."
On Monday, July 29, the FBI announced the rescue of 105 children from prostitution rings and the arrest of 159 adults alleged to have acted as pimps. Three children were rescued from Birmingham and two from Atlanta.
According to a USA Today article released on Monday July 29, the arrests were the result of a large-scale FBI operation that spanned 76 cities across the United States. The massive sting, called "Operation Cross Country," took place from July 26 - 28 and involved the cooperation of 230 separate law enforcement agencies.
For the members of Freedom 21, "Operation Cross Country" was a boon for their cause, but also just a beginning.
Lori Sewell, president of Freedom 21, said, "It's amazing the FBI has done this, and this should put up a platform for sex trafficking to be in the spot light."
"I think this will have a huge impact, and people will realize this is going on in the United States," Sewell said. "Maybe people will now be more likely to notice when something strange is going on and report it."
Carden said, "We're really excited about it. It's a small step, but a step in the right direction."
Sewell also said she was not surprised by the large amount of children rescued and adults arrested.
"I wish they would have made some arrests in Auburn," Sewell said. "Like many small towns, people don't realize what's going on."
Carden said education is vital to eliminating sex trafficking locally and nationally.
"When you see events like this, have that conversation," Carden said. "It's not an easy one to have, but you have to educate yourself to what's going on in the community and the nation."
Freedom 21 works with the Auburn Police Department and the local FBI field office to help find and rescue local children subjected the horrors of sex trafficking and prostitution. The group is currently raising money to build a safe house in the Auburn-Opelika area.
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