Recent events in San Antonio, Texas have sparked outrage amongst many communities.  Nearly 100 people were found trapped in an enclosed trailer in a Wal-Mart parking lot; the conditions they were found in were both a tragedy and abysmal.  See the article here for more details.

Chicago has become one of the fastest growing hubs for Human Trafficking in the United States. Sex trafficking victims are typically solicited in Chicago suburbs in places such as massage parlors and gentlemen’s clubs because locations downtown are heavily monitored by the police. Gangs, especially those on the West Side, also use human trafficking.

Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Children make up almost a third of all human trafficking victims worldwide, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Additionally, women and girls comprise 71 per cent of human trafficking victims, the report states.

The weekend of July 29 & 30, 2017 (Saturday & Sunday) the Yet She Rise organization will create a public awareness display on the corner Milwaukee & Damen in Wicker Park and the other Milwaukee and Ashland in two of the most popular retail commercial corridors in the City of Chicago. Large dual boxes (each box will contain one male and one female actor) will be on public display with their hands tied and tape on their mouths with a message. The boxes will contain various hash tags and messages for the public to share. Mini compact mirrors will be handed out as well as wallet size brochures. Volunteers will distribute wallet size brochures in English and Spanish and asking the public to photograph and record the display and share their content.

July 30, 2017 is International Day sponsored by the United Nations. Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced
labor and sex. The International Labor Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labor globally. This estimate also includes victims of human trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation. While it is not known how many of these victims were trafficked, the estimate implies that currently, there are millions of trafficking in person’s victims in the world.  This is an ample opportunity in lieu of recent events to stay alert and become educated in this ongoing tragedy.

Halfstack and Art and Sol will be present to take your testimonials on your experience with the display.