I had the privilege of hearing a Super Lawyer speak tonight. A Super Lawyer, in the legal world, is a distinguished rating used to recognize outstanding lawyers in certain fields; and even though this lawyer holds the title in the area of Aviation Law and Medical Malpractice, it isn’t what I mean. David William Boone is a super lawyer because of what he stands against. Founder and President of CLAWS (Civil Lawyers Against World Sex-Slavery), Boone uses the civil justice system to bring pro bono lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sex slavery. The goal of CLAWS is “to empower victims, take economic resources away from those who are benefiting from trafficking, and raise awareness among the public through education, legislation, and litigation.”
Atlanta ranks high in cities for sex trafficking in the United States.
Boone spoke openly to a packed house at The Torch in Demorest, Georgia, about the crisis we find ourselves in today. 85% of the children taken into sex trafficking are girls, 15% boys. He said the average age of a child forced into the sex slave industry is 12 to 13 years of age, and frighteningly, 300 children are abducted per month in the State of Georgia.
One of the greatest marketing tools for these predators, these modern-day pimps, is social media. I’ve heard about sex trafficking, in far away places, not close to home. It happened in dark, dangerous places, and it happened to women and children who were sold into it because of poverty. It wasn’t in the malls or on playgrounds or in neighborhoods. And certainly not in the United States.
I learned, as David Boone opened his heart and expressed his faith to a congregation of mostly teens and parents, that Americans are buying and selling Americans, and it happens every day. The predators that entrap young girls and boys befriend them on Facebook, through texting, and Instagram. They meet up at the Mall and ball games. These pimps manipulate teens into believing they are their friends, their boyfriend or girlfriend, and they love them more than their parents. Over and over, our young people are falling for it.
Boone spends tireless hours educating people on how we can become aware of the pitfalls and understand who the predators are and how they prey on people. The best advise he can give for parents is to BE PARENTS – not friends. Know who your teenagers are texting, what they are viewing on the internet, and with whom they are spending time.
There are organizations all over the world working to stop this atrocity. Take the time and learn how you can help prevent sex trafficking in the U.S. and in the world. It starts with us – one person at a time.
If you would like more information about CLAWS and how you can become involved in helping keep these predators off the street, you can visit their website at https://www.usclaws.org.
