The International Justice Mission partnered with Hope Community Church to bring awareness to modern-day slavery. Students from the International Justice Mission canvassed the Brickyard Thursday to educate and shed light on the ongoing human rights injustices.
“Jesus set me free, and I want people to experience spiritual freedom and physical freedom on earth,” said Jacob Smith, a junior studying business administration and the president of International Justice Mission. “I’m also motivated by love. All people are worthy of love and not being abused or trafficked.”
Approximately 27 million people are trapped in slavery across the world, which is reportedly more than any other time in history.
According to the End It Movement website, there are many forms and names of slavery, including forced marriage, sex-trafficking, bonded labor, child labor, forced labor and domestic servitude.
Domestic servitude includes employees working in private homes that are forced or coerced into serving or fraudulently convinced that they have no option to leave.
Those who fall victim to bonded labor, the most common form of modern-day enslavement, are often compelled to work in order to repay a debt and are then unable to leave until the debt is repaid.
“A lot of people aren’t aware that slavery is still a huge issue,” said Kelsey Whetzel, a Hope Community Church employee.
The End It Movement is a coalition of the world’s leading organizations that are in the fight for freedom, including the Salvation Army, World Justice Mission and International Justice Mission, an organization in which many NC State students are involved.
“Students are a huge part of our culture and society as a whole, and we’re going to be the future leaders,” Smith said. “So if we’re not getting passionate about justice now, it’s never going to happen. We’re going to grow up and live the nice ‘American Dream’ and forget about the people in slavery.”
According to Wes Jones, a pastor at Hope Community Church, a modern-day slave costs about $90 compared to a slave held during the Civil War, who could cost a slave owner $45,000 after adjusted for inflation.
“Every human life matters,” Jones said. “There are 27 million people across the world that can’t stand up for themselves, so it’s our job to help raise awareness and help bring them freedom.”
Students were encouraged to learn more about the End It Movement by attending an event at Hope Community Church Thursday night.
Attendees heard from two people affected by trafficking — one was a survivor, and the other was the mother of a survivor. Representatives from different awareness organizations in North Carolina, including the Salvation Army and North Carolina Council for Women, spoke about what they do to combat trafficking on a local level.
Kiricka Smith from the North Carolina Council for Women advocates for anti-trafficking laws, as well as connecting victims to safe homes for those who are being trafficked in North Carolina. Many representatives at the event have operated safe homes to care for victims after they were trafficked.