Impact of Sound of Freedom - Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery

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Impact of “The Sound of Freedom”

Critics call it the “unexpected box office hit of the summer.” The movie “Sound of Freedom” is an eye-opening look at the effects of child sex trafficking and takes place primarily in Mexico and Columbia. This film has increased awareness and concern about child sex trafficking across the nation as well as here in Iowa. Following its sold out opening on July 4th, the NAHT has seen a surge in donations and Iowans offering to volunteer and subscribe to our blog/newsletter.

It has also opened a sudden “cultural dialogue” surrounding human trafficking here in the USA. Many Iowa anti-trafficking advocates wish there was a similar US-oriented movie to make the public aware that the sex trafficking of American children is frequently done by people the child victims know and trust.

Editors Note: The following is a message about the film written by Teressa Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Chains Interrupted:

I served with Tim Ballard on the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking three years ago. His passion for helping the kids and his incredible work is truly an inspiration. While the content of this movie is difficult…and plays on every emotion (sadness, anger, fear, hope, gratefulness, and more), it is critical that we become aware and hold conversations on the realities of human trafficking – the fastest-growing organized crime in the world. Spoil alert! This post contains some information about certain movie scenes.

It is important to note a couple of things about this movie.

—> While it is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, it is still Hollywood. Not everything you see in the movie is true. Tim’s organization, Operation Underground Railroad, spells out what is true and what is Hollywood here: https://ourrescue.org/blog/sound-of-freedom-based-on-true-story

—>It is important you know what is real life and what isn’t in this movie, because several things Hollywood inserted are sensationalism and myths we (Chains Interrupted and other anti-Human Trafficking organizations) try desperately to dispel.

It’s CRITICAL that people watching the movie understand this film only shows one tiny fragment of what human trafficking looks like. First and foremost, the majority of people victimized by Human Trafficking in the US… were born in the US. They are our friends, family, and neighbors.

In the movie, there is space where real-life footage is shown of kids being kidnapped and likely led into a life of trafficking. While kidnapping someone to traffic them DOES happen, it is by far the least common way. Most of the time, we see the use of fake relationships to groom someone into a trafficking situation – whether that be a romantic partner, friendship or “new family.” More often than you think, people are sold into sex and labor trafficking by a family member.

Traffickers want to create a relationship in which the victim is dependent on them, and work to break down all the other relationships in the victim’s life – replacing them with themselves. The #1 place traffickers recruit victims these days is online – chat rooms, dating sites, sugar baby sites, porn sites, and more. As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I will tell you that children do not have the developmental capability to handle what IS being thrown at them online. To quote a former child predator, “The internet is not a place (for parents/guardians) to give kids their privacy.”

It is also important to address how people who are victimized by this crime typically react to people trying to “rescue” them. The scene where Tim goes off into the rebel territory by himself did not happen in real life. That entire scenario is Hollywood. A young girl who has been kidnapped, sold for sex to tourists (many of them North American), then sold to and abused by a rebel leader is unlikely to trust and leave with a North American man who shows up out of nowhere in the jungle. A person in the US who has been trafficked is also not likely to trust and leave with someone they do not know. Trying to “rescue” them can place them in more harm. Anyone “rescued” out of a trafficking situation may not be safe going home again, as traffickers will often retaliate or come back to retrieve their “property.” Being victimized by sex and/or labor trafficking is extremely traumatizing. Every survivor I have ever met has told me their lives were never the same again. While the movie had a feel-good ending, in reality it will take a lot of time and rehabilitative services before many survivors will be able to sing, play, and dance again.

Editors Note: Here are some other articles with reactions to the movie:

Sextortion-Catfishing Scams Targeting Iowa Teens

Editor’s note: This article was provided by Melody Stone, founder and chair of the North and Central Iowa Coalition Against Trafficking. She can be reached here: prairiemelody@gmail.com

For those of us who are involved on the front lines providing prevention education or who are concerned citizens raising community awareness, we can all do something to prevent these tragedies!

Sextortion is the fastest-growing worldwide criminal enterprise infiltrating every county in Iowa! According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there has been a 1,800% increase in online exploitation since 2021! The youth suicide rate has also increased by 200% in the past year! There is something we can ALL do to turn the tide on these horrific statistics.

4 WAYS we can create stronger, safer communities IN IOWA!

Become educated about human trafficking. Know the signs, resources, and how to prevent this in our communities.
Host a FREE online safety presentation at your church, school, community center, library, youth/parent block party, youth night, or summer camp,…We have great no-cost prevention education for youth, parents/grandparents, and others! One hour of prevention education will create a firewall against trafficking. Contact Melody Stone, 808 430-5710, and set this up soon. Our youth will be online more during the summer which creates increased exploitation opportunities for traffickers! We also need host locations to show the documentary “Gridshock” about sex trafficking in RURAL IOWA. You set up the location and we’ll do the rest!
If you see or suspect something, say something! Build healthy relationships with youth, engage in honest open-door discussions, and establish reasonable online safety rules and expectations with your kids!
Post national/Iowa hotline stickers in your community. You can get stickers by going to the NAHT website and scrolling down to the sticker section. Iowa NAHT Website – hotline stickers

Pay close attention to your child’s online “friends,” social media connections, and changes in their behavior, appearance, or habits. Restrict the use of their devices to common areas in your home and establish reasonable time limits on these devices. Through prevention education, we are committed to saving and safeguarding one life at a time…and that is indeed priceless!

Hiring Open for Three Paid Anti-Trafficking Positions

Lila Mae’s House, located in Sioux City Iowa has opened up its Executive Director Position, the successful candidate will have fundraising and grant writing experience. To view full job description, click this link: https://jobs.siouxcityjournal.com/company/lila-mae-s-house-316242/job/executive-director-in-sioux-city-ia-j0weo5sjhapkxp0529degyacb8fpqi/ For additional information, contact Sister Shirley Fineran – shirley@lilamaeshouse.org or call (712)-635-2049
Director of Programming for Set Me Free Project – The Director of Programming is responsible for the development and deployment of The Set Me Free Project’s READY To Stand ® curriculum and the Hotel/Motel Human Trafficking Prevention and Response Program. In addition, the role will provide ongoing planning and evaluation of The Set Me Free Project’s curriculum and instructional services. While ensuring that learning objectives are aligned to federal and state guidelines and achieve the highest level in learner experience and instructional excellence. The role will report to the Chief Operating Officer. This is a full-time position and is offering $40,000 per year. For more information, contact Stephanie Olson – stephanie@setmefreeproject.net
Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF) is hiring for the position of Assistant Vice President of Trafficking and Violence Prevention. The person in this role is responsible for the overall coordination and project management of the “Support for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking in NE” project. They will also be responsible for the coordination of trafficking and violence prevention efforts and strategies in partnership with NE’s Community Well-Being Collaboratives. The ideal candidate has experience managing public grant programs and contributing to writing grants, program or project management experience, comfortability facilitating cross-sector groups of diverse stakeholders, innovative ideas for engaging survivors and other key partners in achieving goals, and personal drive and accountability. The person in this role can be located in Omaha, Lincoln, or remote within Nebraska. Follow this link to read the full description and apply: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1729787. For questions about this position, please contact Sara Riffel at sriffel@nebraskachildren.org.

How Can We Improve This Blog/Newsletter

This NAHT blog/newsletter has over 1500 subscribers and frequently receives comments. Here is one reader’s feedback about the July 2023 issue.

“I found these articles extremely informative and yet disturbing. It boggles the mind to think of what survivors go through. I also wanted to say “Congrats to Dorthy’s House and Garden Gate Ranch” for an exceptional job. Well done. I enjoy receiving these releases. I do read everything even all the underlined stories and updates.” – Patricia Reeves

If you wish to send us comments or make suggestions for newsletter improvements, send them to administrator@lindam87.sg-host.com. Also, if you have anti-trafficking news, projects, training or resources to share, please do! Thanks!

Sunday, July 30th is World Day Against Trafficking In Persons

The United Nations designated July 30th as the 2023 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness of this devastating global crime and to promote the protection of people’s basic human rights. Each year, the U.N. sets a different theme and this year’s theme is “Reach Every Victim of Trafficking, LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.” Trafficking is modern-day slavery and this heinous crime is growing not only globally, but right here in Iowa as well.

Sex and labor trafficking is a thriving criminal industry, and traffickers continue to operate with impunity. Less than 1% of traffickers are ever brought to justice. Only a small fraction of victims ever receive trauma-informed, victim-centered support services. July 30th gives Iowans an opportunity to band together and build momentum to defeat human trafficking. There are several coalitions and agencies in Iowa hosting events on Sunday, July 30th. Download event poster shown to the right (PDF) for an event in Des Moines.

Please make the Global Day Against Trafficking in Persons the day that you become part of the solution and stand with us in this fight.

Missouri Runaway Girl Rescued From Atlanta Motel Where She was Bought and Sold for Sex, 9 Men Convicted

Nine men were recently convicted after authorities said a missing 17-year-old girl from Missouri had been trafficked by “multiple individuals” and found in an Atlanta hotel room. “People would be shocked to know how many kids are missing all the time,” Hanna Palmquist, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, explained. “She has been trafficked by multiple individuals, one day after the other,” Palmquist said.

Operation Not Forgotten is an annual operation in Georgia conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit with a mission of rescuing endangered missing children. In 2020, the operation led the team to the Travelodge off Interstate 75 in College Park, where a missing 17-year-old from Missouri was found in a motel room. That same operation resulted in 26 children being rescued. To read more tap this link.