FBI: Nationwide child prostitution sweep leads to 104 arrests, 79 children rescued

What do social media and prostitution have in common?  ALMOST EVERYTHING!  

Social medial outlets like Facebook, Craigslist, Backpage, and more allow pimps access to more young girls than ever before.  They know what to look for in a child, and they know the children that can be easily groomed.  These children are lured in by the promise of everything from a warm meal, to love and attention that they feel they aren't receiving elsewhere.  For more information on keeping your child safe on the internet click here.

Though 79 children were rescued, many are expected to return to the harsh world of prostitution and trafficking largely in part to the grooming process.  They have been convinced this is what love feels like, and they know no other lifestyle.  Rehabilitation and numerous outlets to heal will be necessary for these victims to overcome the tragedy they have endured.

For the full article please click the link below:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/25/us/child-prostitution/index.html

If you think you know a victim of trafficking, or have been trafficked/sold without your permission please contact Be Free right away.  We are here for you always.

Want to help?  

Here are a few ways:

You can attend one of these events and raise funds and awareness for organizations working to help the victims of these situations.

                                                     

You can also get some people together and host a screening of Sex + Money.  A documentary geared towards spreading the word regarding trafficking, prostitution, and the horrible combination of sex and the people willing to buy it.

http://sexandmoneyfilm.com/

Thanks for stopping by.

Polly

Get your tennis shoes, your bike, and get moving....for Be Free!

There is another event coming up for Be Free Ministries!

Be Free is partnering with Bethany International to host a 

Walk. Run. Bike. Against Human Trafficking.

The start/end location is to be determined and will be announced shortly.

The event starts on Saturday, July 28th at 8:00 a.m.

To register to ride/run/walk or to sign up to help email

ride_run_BeFree58@ymail.com

Keep following Be Free's Facebook page for all the event information!

See you there!

Always Trusting.

Polly

Be Free Ministries has a new Facebook page!!

As opposed to the Group setting Be Free was utilizing before, they now have a page option that one can just 'like' and then follow all the important updates, events, and opportunities to serve.

You can also share this page with your friends (which would be great if you would!)

To do this:

There is a little drop down menu next to the actual "Like" button, and "message" button.  

On this drop down menu there is an option to 'SHARE'.

You can post on your wall, on a friend's wall, or even private message.

Here is the link!

https://www.facebook.com/BeFreeSiouxFalls

On there you will also see information on the Screaming In the Silence event I blogged about eariler.  This is going to be a fantastic event benefiting Be Free Ministries and Tapestry International.  What more could you ask for in an evening? Coffee from Coffea Roasterie, local artwork, and making a difference all in one place. Be there!!!!

Hello Be Free Followers!

There a multitude of events coming up, all working to raise awareness of Human Trafficking right here in Sioux Falls.

On July 10th Coffea Roasterie  will be partnering with Be Free Ministries and Tapestry International to host a Silent Auction of local artists to raise money for these ministries.  Proceeds from the coffee drinks bought during this event will also be donated to Be Free Ministries and Tapestry International.

Come drink some great coffee, browse some local artwork, and learn how you can help these ministries combat these crimes against humanity.

This event will be Tuesday, July 10th from 6:30 to 8:30! Be There!!

See you Soon.

Polly D.

Dr. Phil goes "Behind The Lens"

Recently Dr. Phil aired an episode entitled "Behind the Lens: Child Pornography".  There were horrific tales of mental, physical, and sexual abuse against children of all ages.  Children were tortured, sold, beat, raped, starved, videotaped and completely robbed of any innocence and normality in their young life.  The worst part of every situation?  The images/videos/sales of all these children were grabbed up at an ASTONISHING rate. Thousands upon thousands of people logged on to these websites regularly to illegally view this disturbing footage.

The show also tackled the act of 'grooming'; which has been mentioned on a few posts before, and what I think is a GIANT step in eradicating these heartbreaking stories.  These monsters pose as caring, gentle, kind influences in a child's life in order to earn their trust...when really they have only one goal...and that is complete manipulation and control.  When they work their way into a child's heart; there is no telling the damage that can be done.

Below are a few links (including links to Dr. Phil's website) that were highlighted on the show.  There are a number of organizations doing what Be Free is doing and we all need to stand strong together to eradicate these horrendous crimes against humanity.

http://www.notonemorechild.org/  'Not One More Child' was founded by Elizabeth Smart and Alicia Kozakiewicz both victims of abduction.  Both women are working tirelessly to educate the public on Internet Safety, rescue and rehabilitation for victims of tragedies like their own.

http://protect.org/component/content/article/1576  Protect.org is an amazing resource to get all information regarding laws, bills, and amendments pertaining to Sex Trafficking, Child Sex Trafficking, Child Pornography and many more.  There are sections stating what YOU specifically can do where you live, or around the world.  Whether it be writing a letter, or showing support for a petition or grant.

Trust.  


It is how I sign every one of my blogs.  Trust.  Always Trust.  It is something as humans that we consciously decide to give to someone.  Whether it be God, your significant other, a friend, or...a stranger.  When I sign my blog; it is more of a constant reminder to myself to Always Trust God. 

 In today's blog I am pondering a different kind of trust...

Last night I watched the movie "Trust" starring Clive Owen and directed by David Schwimmer.  (You may recognize him from a little show that was somewhat popular a while back called 'Friends')  In "Trust", Schwimmer tackles the heavy issues of grooming, and how this tactic is utilized by online predators.

The movie delves into the heart wrenching emotions one family goes through when their 14 year old daughter is groomed, and assaulted, by an older man she met online.  According to Highlights of the Youth Internet Safety Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice “one in five children (10 to 17 years old) receive unwanted sexual solicitations online.”  

Just another reason to study up on Internet safety, and monitor where your child goes on the internet.  I will attach again the Internet Safety 101 information.  The predators who do this are VERY good at what they do.  They know how to get to these kids and make them not want to tell anyone what happened.  Very informational; though hard to watch at some points.  I recommend watching without young kids in the room.






All for now. Thanks for stopping by.




Always Trust.
Polly D.

Sign The Petition to Stop Trafficking on Backpage.com

A disturbing trend is surfacing on a well known website www.backpage.com.  4 people in Denver arrested, one in Georgia, and many more not caught yet. (According to www.Change.org)  

Pimps utilize the internet to exploit girls; young girls as well, to buyers all over the country while maintaining a dangerous secrecy when it comes to their identity.

We need to, as a society, put a lid on organizations that make it easier for buyers and pimps to force others into any form of exploitation.  We have a moral obligation to each other to do our part.  Here is one simple thing that you can do right now.

Head over to Change.org with the link below:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-village-voice-media-to-stop-child-sex-trafficking-on-backpage-com

Curious what websites like Craigslist and Backpage have to do with an issue like trafficking?  Read this article, "Teen Girls' Stories of Sex Trafficking in the U.S." published way back in February of 2006 detailing 2 different young girls' stories and how both were sold and exploited using the internet.  Think of all the advances to our social networking since 2006 and what these changes have possibly done to make the trafficking industry flourish.  Just another reason to check out Enough is Enough, to educate yourself on Internet Safety.

As always, Thanks for reading and staying informed. Any questions/comments/concerns can be directed to myself or Be Free directly.  Interested in helping?  Come up with an action plan and contact us.  Want to host a screening of the film 'Sex + Money'?  Good idea.  Contact any of us for more details.

Always Trust.

Polly D.