Alleged drug deal gone bad....that was how numerous deaths were described as we remembered the lives of women who have passed from human trafficking. So many of these young women and girls deaths dont get investigated but instead slapped by a label because they are perceived as "throw aways".
Prostitution is the most dangerous job in the world, despite what you may have heard.
I had the honor to march with many people from Breaking Free and around the twin cities down the streets of St. Paul last night. We marched for the women and girls who no longer have a voice because of the violence that happens all the time in the trafficking world.
We had a candlelight vigil to honor these women. Their names and "how they died" was read allowed as we stood outside. I held on tight to my candle and protected it from the wind. I wanted so badly for the flame to burn as long as it could. I wanted it to burn bright to honor the women who died in such horrific ways. I wanted it to burn long because I knew that those women died scared and crying out for someone to help them.
As I held my candle tight and protected it from the wind I looked across the crowd of people who were also holding their candles, just as tight, and saw a young woman...standing there with tears rolling down her face. A girl that knew that life. A life of beatings, drugs, rape and sexual exploitation. She knew what was being talked about in a personal way. I saw her and held even tighter as a tear rolled down my face. Knowing that I didnt know exactly how she felt but knew that my heart felt hers.
My heart aches for her and other women trying to find a love that that industry tears apart. I want so badly to be able to really connect with women like her. Women who are loved and they dont quite know how much yet. Women who feel broken but can be redeemed. Women who dont feel worth anything but have more value then any dollar amount. Who dont feel beautiful but who are beautiful because they were created for amazing things.
These stories make them who they are but these stories do not own or define them.
I will never be silent in sharing their stories and giving a voice to those its been taken from.
