DC SMS Survivor Speaker Panel

Last Thursday, DC Stop Modern Slavery held an All-Survivor Speaker Panel to bring awareness to human trafficking and address some issues faced in society including the influence of media and the law. The contributing speakers were Stacy Jewell Lewis, writer and director of the play Stolen, and Barbara Amaya, activist and author who is currently working on a book entitled, " A Girl's Guide To Survival: Life Lessons From The Street"; Shamere McKenzie, also a survivor, moderated the panel.

After speaking, the panel was opened to a Question and Answer section. When asked  about the role of media, Stacy stated, "We are generally being reprogrammed everyday...media is slowly taking away childhood and putting it into an adult [perspective]." She also added that the "media role is good and bad, [in that it includes] those who want to educate versus those who want to entertain." It was really interesting to hear her take on the Disney film The Lady and the Tramp when speaking about the role of cartoons in media. Stacy expressed how she realized that there were many parallels, though unintentional, with the film and human trafficking.

Barbara contributed to several questions regarding the law including the terms on which police charge. She stated that the charge is "loitering for the purposes of prostitution;" those who are charged are taken to the courthouse chain-gang style like a humiliating walk of shame. Additionally, Barbara mentioned that Safe Harbor laws should label victims as people with needs because survivors are barred from many programs, like Victim Assistance and jobs, when they have convictions.

All three survivors had the opportunity to respond on the use of the word "pimp." People have become desensitized to the term over time, especially since the term is being glamorized. Shamere said "if the media can make us laugh at things, then it's ok."

DC Stop Modern Slavery will be having a pre-walk rally this Monday. The rally will include guest Tina Frundt, the founder of Courtney's House. Bridge to Freedom foundation is a proud partner of Courtney's house.

"Stolen" Sneak Peak at DC SMS Meeting

Shamere McKenzie does not hide from the fact that she is a survivor of sex trafficking.  Sold a false dream by a seemingly nice man, McKenzie ended up being forced into sexual services and subject to physical violence for too many nights.  Nowadays, as a Protected Innocence Initiative Policy Assistant for Shared Hope International and a mentor to fellow survivors, she is a testament to the strength and perseverance of survivors modern slavery.  In a small room above the Mad Hatter in DC, McKenzie revealed a bit of the sex trafficking world to her audience at the Stop Modern Slaverymeeting on Monday night.  "Trafficking is a subculture," she shared.  "It has its own code of conduct, its own language and its own consequences."  Modern slavery is in our own backyard with between 14,500 and 17,500 and it can be seen every night  in cities across the country, including K Street in downtown DC.  Traffickers and buyers can be an uncle, a brother, a cousin, a boyfriend, a mother...and victims can be your sister, your neighbor, your cousin, your daughter, your son.  "Pimp Codes" can be compared to the slave codes where victims work long hours, take 0% of their earnings and don't control decisions such as when they eat.  It's a business where 13 is the average age of entry and traffickers are earning millions of dollars a year.

Soon after McKenzie stepped down, Stacy Jewell Lewis stepped up to share with the audience a preview of  the fear she felt as a victim from her upcoming play, Stolen: From Playgrounds to Streetlights, which will be premiering at the Atlas Theater in early August.  A stirring and dramatic monologue, Lewis let her words create a scene of desperation and terror, but also one of hope- hope for survivors and also hope for the volunteers and activists dedicated to eradicating this epidemic.  Her story will be one of many, including McKenzie's, that will be featured in her play as a call to action and a catalyst to ignite indignation and passion.

This year DC Stop Modern Slavery and BTFF are partnering, along with another 13 organizations, for the Stop Modern Slavery Walk on September 29th at the Washington Monument.  To register to be part of our team or to donate please click here.  Not only will there be a walk, but survivors like McKenzie and Lewis will be present to speak, as well as musical performances.

In a week when we are hard pressed to reflect on our liberty in this country, we must also take the time to remember those whose freedoms have been abused.  If you have come across ANYTHING that resembles human trafficking please call the hotline at 1-888-3737-888.