You Can’t Turn the Channel on Human Trafficking - Take a Stand, Say Enough is Enough! Residents Shine a light on Human Trafficking in the OC at Vanguard Candle Light Vigil.

OC 1/11: The candle flames warmed hands and hearts as we gathered in the evening cooled chapel court yard on the Costa Mesa, California campus of Vanguard University, January 11, 2010, to reflect on where we are in our journey to Stop Human Trafficking in Orange County and the waters yet to be navigated to stop it locally and globally.  

Carol A. Taylor, President of Vanguard University, lead the opening of the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day OC 1/11 Candle Light Vigil sharing Vanguard’s commitment to raise awareness and stop trafficking. The Center for Women’s Studies uses the R.E.A.C.H. approach (Research, Education, Advocacy, Collaboration, Hope) calling on everyone to study the issues, be a voice, and to make a difference.

Sandie Morgan, Director of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, gathered together students, community partners (CSP-Heidi Thi, Salvation Army-Sherri Harris, Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor Area, Life2Free, Saddleback Church-Kay Warren, and others), law enforcement (ICE), educators, and residents of Orange County to raise awareness of Human Trafficking and to ignite commitments to stop Human Trafficking. An I.C.E. law enforcement officer, Students and Community Partners shared stories of trafficking situations, and of rescue and recovery of victims in Orange County, with over 80 people rescued since 2003, and 35 people in various stages of recovery in the support system in Orange County today. They encouraged everyone to bring their individual voices and talents to end slavery, and to report concerns to 1-888-3737-888, the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Kay Warren, of Saddleback Church, led the closing reflections. She affirmed Human Trafficking is an uncomfortable topic for many of us, we may wish we could “just turn the channel” but that will not make it go away. Our resolve needs to be like a strong determined river purging the perpetrators (the traffickers) so we can shine our light on Human Trafficking and help the victims. We need to say “enough” and stop trafficking.