Versus human trafficking in the Bay area

Just last month, several people were busted for human trafficking at a restaurant we USED to go to. This one was labor trafficking, which is rampant in this area. (So is sex trafficking; vacation spot, etc.) Y’know, I’ve had a bad feeling about the working and living conditions for people in those Chinese buffets for a while, but hadn’t changed where I eat. Till now.

Only a few crazies would suggest that buying and selling human flesh is good. Most of us would agree that it's bad.  God's clear about honoring "the least, the last and the lost" among us, not exploiting them. But maybe we can move beyond crime-story and theological detachment on this topic, to the heart-conviction that it's truly evil. And worth our action and involvement.

First, a definition from urbanministry.org: "the sale, transport and profit from human beings who are forced to work for others -- is the modern equivalent of slavery. Against their will, millions of people around the world are forced to work for the profit of others, for example by begging, prostitution, involuntary servitude, working in sweatshops - even becoming child soldiers."

In May of 2009, Pinellas County Deputy Jeremy Lewis was one of several local law enforcement officers to catch the slavers in the act. He got the call in part because he could be a non-intimidating listener, which was what the terrified rape and slavery victim needed. She was a local girl, down on her luck, and picked up by someone who offered her a better life. Didn't work out that way.

So happened he had just taken a continuing-education course on trafficking, and could recognize what he was seeing, instead of just writing her off as another "willing prostitute." (Don't throw stuff at me - people say that kind of thing.) Good thing he took that course.

The reality was that she was raped, beaten, threatened with death, coerced into stripping and prostitution, and convinced that she had to maintain a "normal" mask in order to survive. The slavers also convinced her that they would kill her local-area family if she exposed their crimes. The first victory for authorities was to recognize that something wasn't right; the second was for her to lower the mask and reveal the terrified soul beneath.

Jeremy had worked his previous ten years in homicide, burglary and even a tour in the marine unit. He liked his job. But this one...this one was an “I was made for this” moment, where all his professional dreams and experience came together. In a funny way, this was work that made his heart sing. It still does.

There are many groups out there working to help the victims and prosecute the slavers. [1] Unfortunately, they don't always connect all that well. In a large metropolitan area like this one, a single case might have pieces in a dozen law-enforcement, victim-support and other non-governmental organizations. Gaps develop between jurisdictions, or priorities, or just plain "gee, I didn't know they could've done that."

By the way, the more slavers can complicate justice by moving people around and confusing things...you get it.  It's good business for them.

The International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators (IAHTI) was formed by Jeremy and another investigator, James McBride, to help bridge that information gap. They keep a who's-who database of people involved in fighting this evil. They also go around educating people about trafficking and how to fight it, prevent it and help its victims. Several area churches, to their great credit, have really gotten onboard with the anti-trafficking movement.

Here's a secular organization, IAHTI, partnering with Christians and non-Christians to fight this injustice. Beautiful. More power to 'em.

God is quite clear about how he loves justice, and even more clear about what worshiping him looks like. "For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing." (see Isaiah 58 & 61 for far more detail)

"Gentle Jesus" shreds the uber-churchy people: "I've had it with you! [...you give one-tenth of] every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God's love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required." (Luke 11:42, The Message translation)

If we want God’s light to shine, his fire to burn in the hearts of men and women, we have to carry that flame and light into the very darkest places. How else will they be lit? Why shine a flashlight in broad daylight?

The Christmas cards often say, “Wise men still seek him.” How Godlike; that he would call wise people from various places and many declarations of faith to carry out his intention to purchase and slowly repair every broken vessel. And carry out justice in the land, that we might live well in it.


[1] For example, three Christian groups doing anti-trafficking and victim recovery work are NightLight Atlanta, TraffickFree.org, and NotForSale.