Students stand for more than a day for sex slavery

The Daily News

Sophomore speech pathology major Amanda Jones holds a sign during a human trafficking protest at the Scramble Light on March 14, 2013. Ball State’s chapter of the International Justice Mission participated in Stand for Freedom, which lasted 27 hours as group members stood outside. DN PHOTO JORDAN HUFFER
Sophomore speech pathology major Amanda Jones holds a sign during a human trafficking protest at the Scramble Light on March 14, 2013. Ball State’s chapter of the International Justice Mission participated in Stand for Freedom, which lasted 27 hours as group members stood outside. DN PHOTO JORDAN HUFFER






For 27 consecutive hours, students literally stood up for their beliefs in awareness.

Members of the International Justice Mission of Ball State stood for more than a day at the Scramble Light to bring awareness to the human trafficking that plagues societies globally as part of the organization’s campaign called “Stand for Freedom.”

The event started at 9 a.m. Thursday and lasted until noon Friday. Students stood in the cold weather when temperatures got down into the upper 20s Thursday night, according to weather.com.

“It was cold and it was long, but it was lots of fun,” said Chris Kozak, president of Ball State’s chapter. “I got to talk to a lot of people.”

Kozak said the people he talked to expressed interest in the cause and he thinks they learned about human trafficking. According to the organizations website, traffickers transport or detain their victims for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. It involves the trade of sex for profit.

“A lot of students think it’s something that’s far away in other countries,” Kozak said.

It happens in cities around the United States, including Indianapolis, he said.

The International Justice Mission’s website said the organization raised a little more than $50,000 and had 593 different groups demonstrating around the world as of Friday evening. It also showed that Ball State had 16 students registered as participating in the campaign. 

“It worked out really well,” Kozak said. “I’m assuming it’s going to happen again next year with how successful this year was.”

This is the first year Ball State’s chapter participated. Kozak said he would be more than happy to take part in it again next year.

Facts and statistics were displayed on signs at the event, but Kozak said there also needs to be a discussion.

“If you don’t start thinking about it, it will end up in our backyard,” he said. “I’m sure it happens in Muncie, but no one really thinks about that.”

It wouldn’t be isolated to the current generation either, Kozak said.

“If we don’t do anything about it, it’s going to happen to us and our brothers and sisters and our kids,” he said.

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