Fight for Freedom
A21 Walk aims to raise trafficking awareness
All over the world, people will be participating in the A21 Walk for Freedom Oct. 15. This walk will be hosted in over 250 locations in 28 different countries worldwide, including Lynchburg, Virginia.
A21 is a worldwide non-profit organization that fights against human trafficking, slave labor and sexual exploitation.
The organization offers protection to survivors of these situations and helps them get back on their feet with vocational training, educational opportunities and more.
Walk for Freedom participants will march silently in a single file line in solidarity for human trafficking victims.
Their goal is to raise awareness and fight against human trafficking.
Tara Adams, Liberty University sophomore, is the coordinator for the walk in Lynchburg. She saw the opportunity to host a walk on A21’s Instagram page and applied and interviewed for the position.
“I decided to do it because God broke my heart for people,” Adams said.
“It dawned upon me that 27 million people, who God created and breathed life into and who he loves to the point of death, are enslaved and in the worst possible conditions. It broke my heart and I couldn’t sit silently about it. I had to do something about it.”
The Lynchburg walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Monument Terrace 216 Twelfth St. Any students who are interested in signing up can email Adams directly at taraadams2015@gmail.com.
Students are also able to sign up through the A21 website under the “Walk for Freedom” tab and select the Lynchburg location.
“Liberty students should get involved because what better thing for the church to begin than the abolition of slavery?” Adams said.
“There is something so beautiful that happens when you stop thinking about yourself for a few minutes, and you start thinking about other people.”
Laura Schulte, a Liberty sophomore, is helping Adams with the organization for the walk.
“Every 30 seconds someone is taken slave into the human trafficking industry,” Schulte said. “This issue effects every corner of the earth.”
Schulte said the walk is an incredible opportunity to shed light on the issues of trafficking, but beyond the walk, students can get involved with the fight by posting on social media, financially contributing or joining local organizations.
“This is an issue that a lot of people still don’t know about,” Adams said.
“There are more people enslaved today than when slavery was legal. Human trafficking is not just something that happens in San Francisco or New York or China or South Africa, but it happens here in Lynchburg—here in Virginia.”
Adams said Virginia is the fifth-highest human trafficking state in America. According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, they have received 3,417 calls and 780 cases of reported trafficking instances in Virginia since 2007.
In addition to raising awareness, Adams said funds raised from walks all over the world will rescue and restore victims.
Money raised will combat human trafficking by putting together raids to save men, women and children from brothels and integrate them back into normal society.
A21 advertises that Walk for Freedom will provide vocational training, medical care, and field trips in order for survivors to fully experience their newfound freedom.
Participants will open in prayer and then walk around downtown Lynchburg. They will wear all black, and black duct tape will be provided to place on their mouths.
“We are a symbol of the voice for the 27 million people who have had their voices stolen from them,” Adams said.
NULL is a feature reporter.