$150 Billion Trafficking Industry in Birmingham - What Can Be Done?

"Kathy Jackson was a typical college student in the mid-1980s when she went to Chicago for spring break to attend a jazz festival with a group of friends she had met in college.

She did not expect to become trapped in a human trafficking ring for more than three decades.

“I really thought they were students at the college [I attended], but they were not,” recalled Jackson. “They were finding out information about me—where I was from, who my mom is, who my dad is, what they do for a living, typical questions. When you’re in college, you don’t have a reason to wonder why people would ask.Jackson said initially she was reluctant about the trip to Chicago.

“My gut was telling me not to go,” she said. “But the free spirit in me was like, ‘No, it’ll be fun. I can work on what I need to do later.’”

“We were in this nice hotel, and they were saying we were going to lunch. I said I was going to go study, and they said, ‘No, no come. It’ll be fun.’ I was reluctant again, but the free spirit in me said, ‘It’s nothing.’”

Jackson said they went to a beautiful condo—where she was assaulted, raped, and repeatedly beaten.

That was the beginning of a devastating odyssey, during which Jackson was trafficked all over the world.

“There are only two continents I haven’t been on and only five states I haven’t been in for more than a day,” she said.

Now living in Alabama, Jackson said she has a full-time job and attends Miles College."

Read Full Article by: Birmingham Times Here 

The most effective way to combat this epidemic of Trafficking - both Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking is through Preventative Education! Our youth are the main targets for traffickers and predators. We must be smarter then the predators, 10 steps ahead of them and we Must Educate and Safeguard our Youth before predators get to them first. 

Help us Organize and Sponsor Anti-Trafficking Workshops in your Community. Here is the link to more details about our Anti-Trafficking Initiative

Thank you,
The F.A.C.T. Team 

Florida Becomes First State to Teach Human Trafficking Prevention in Schools

"The State Board of Education has unanimously approved a new rule requiring instruction in child trafficking prevention for students in grades K-12. With this approval, Florida will be the first state in the nation to address the need for instruction in child trafficking prevention.

The new rule also establishes procedures for school districts to plan and document delivery of the required instruction.

Florida is third in the nation for numbers of reported cases of human trafficking, and the average age of trafficked youth is 11 to 13 years old. In 2018, there were 767 human trafficking cases reported in Florida. Of those cases, 149 were minors. Up to 70 percent of sex trafficking and exploitation begins with predators connecting with youth online. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one out of eight endangered runaway youth is likely a victim of human trafficking."

Read Full Article Here

Scientology's Leader, David Miscavige Has Been Served!

"Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige Opens in New Window has finally been served in the scathing child trafficking and kidnapping lawsuit filed by ex-member Valerie Haney.

In court papers obtained from Los Angeles Superior Court, Miscavige, 59, was served on October 10, 2019 at Church of Scientology International in Los Angeles, California.

According to the process server, the documents were left with a “John Doe,” who is listed as a “Front Desk Agent.”

The documents were also mailed to the Defendants.
 
The Sea Org, in large part, functions by way of human trafficking, including the trafficking of children,” the filing read. “Defendants engage in the forced labor of adults and children in the Sea Org. Defendants have made billions off the backs of men, women, and children who are trafficked and forced to work 75 to 100 hour weeks for far below the minimum wage with little to no free time or vacation under the threat of severe punishment for failure to perform their work duties.”

Read Full Article Here

 
From what we have gathered from former members of Scientology there are many former and current executives within the organization that should be held accountable for these charges.

As with the NXIVM case, the leader Kieth Raniere wasn't the only one responsible for the harmful acts committed against the vulnerable woman.

But we will have to wait and see how this plays out in the courts, for now it is some progress.

Voluntary & Free Therapy Program for Survivors of Sexual Violence - Palm Springs Area

We are collaborating with Ending Clergy Abuse to help promote this Voluntary and Free therapy program for survivors of sexual violence. Details below.

"Volunteers are needed to participate in a new art-based therapy program for victim-survivors of sexual violence. The program will take place in the greater Palm Springs area in California, November 15-17, 2019. 

Participants will spend two nights at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa where the workshop will take place. 

This workshop is being offered for research purposes and has been approved by Penn State University's Institutional Review Board. If you are interested in participating or would just like to learn more please contact Chaarvi Modi at cxm1268@psu.edu or Tel: 814-360-9661."

  

We are also starting to schedule Anti-Trafficking workshops. We are in need of local Organizers and Sponsors to help us get this life saving education to communities around the USA. 

Support is needed to help survivors of abuse, trafficking, cult groups, predators and to help in the Preventative Education efforts. Please make your in-kind donation today - it is greatly needed and appreciated.  Please Give What You Can Today

Please share. 

Thank you, 

The FACT Team 

Jehovah's Witness Elder Gets 80 Years for Sexually Assualting 4 Children

"CLEBURNE COUNTY, Ark. — A church leader convicted of sexually assaulting children has been sentenced to 80 years in prison.

Roderick Watkins, 57, received the jury’s verdict last week in Cleburne county.

Watkins was an elder in the Jehovah’s Witness church, according to court documents.

Court documents reveal that at least four people came forward over the past year, accusing Watkins of sexually assaulting them while they were children. The four victims included three boys and one girl.

Cleburne county sheriff, Chris Brown, says six other people came forward as the trial neared, bringing the total number of accusers to 10.

The state prosecuted Watkins on four charges. He received the maximum penalty, 20 years, for each one."

Read Full Article Here