Survivors Share Stories of Modern Slavery in DC

by Tanya Hutchins, DC Examiner.com
18 October 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – Saturday’s Stop Modern Slavery Walk on the National Mall aims to give a voice to the voiceless.  Shamere McKenzie knows what it is like not to have a voice and plans to use hers this weekend.  She is a survivor of human trafficking, which includes forced labor and the commercial sex industry.  “I was looking for money to go back to school and I met a man who said he would help me and that’s how I got into the life.”

McKenzie said she realized something was wrong the first night. “He put me to work. I felt like I was violated and he actually choked me to the point of unconsciousness,” she said.  “When I woke up, he turned into Prince Charming.”

She said he apologized and said he didn’t mean to put his hands on her.  He also told her that she wouldn’t have to work as a sex slave any longer.  That proved untrue for the next year and seven months.

“It’s very similar to domestic violence,” McKenzie said.  Although she was a victim, she and her perpetrator were both arrested five years ago.  It was a blessing and a curse.  The arrest got her out of that life, but it also criminalized her.  “I was charged and convicted of a felony,” she said.  The man forced her to drive across state lines with underage girls, in violation of the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting under-aged girls for prostitution or sex acts.

McKenzie says she wants people to know this is happening in the United States and that it happens to children and adults.  “Just to inform people so they can look for the signs and prevention.” She is scheduled to speak Saturday between 11:45am and 12:15pm.  She is one of three survivor speakers and several musical performers.

The DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk is organized entirely by community volunteers from DC, Maryland and Virginia and begins at 8:00am.

Lisa Carrasco is on the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force and is walking with her family. “Hopefully, it will inspire people to help others in need,” Carrasco said.  She hopes official reporting of human trafficking cases begins in 2012.

Walk organizers say various entities facilitate human trafficking: Landlords, hotels/motels, transportation companies, advertisers and banks.  Some are aware of their role, while others are not.

If you see or hear suspicious activity that you think may involve modern slavery, call 1-888-3737-888.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/volunteerism-in-washington-dc/survivors-share-stories-of-modern-slavery