Tonight’s abolitionist outreach and prayer walk concludes Project Exodus and International Justice Mission’s third annual Pepperdine human trafficking awareness week.
Rather than trying to eradicate slavery in faraway developing nations the week focuses on slavery in Los Angeles. Beginning Monday various nightly events have aimed to empower students to take a stand on the horrors of modern-day slavery occurring in Pepperdine’s backyard.
“This is quite an opportunity for us said sophomore Blake McAllister, a student leader of Project Exodus. Human trafficking is going to be the moral issue of our generation in terms of injustice.”
After Wednesday’s 10 a.m. convocation Project Exodus staged a mock slave auction amid a bustling Waves Café. The organizers said their goal was to achieve maximum shock value. Project Exodus members positioned throughout the cafeteria to bid on five “slaves who volunteered to dress with fake wounds. A student auctioneer sold the slaves to the highest bidder. Students’ reactions differed, but some said the event personalized a seemingly distant issue.
It really brings your awareness to a different level said freshman Elliott Taylor, who observed the slave auction.
Project Exodus leaders said they hope the slave auction encouraged students to participate tonight in the abolitionist outreach and prayer walk, during which they will educate Los Angeles businesses and residents about human trafficking. The group will depart Special Programs at 7 p.m.
For the first half of the week, Project Exodus and IJM worked to familiarize the campus with slavery by hosting convocation events.
People can’t do anything about an issue they don’t know about said Mike Masten, a 2007 Pepperdine alumnus and founder of Project Exodus. By raising awareness and activism we’re hoping that public officials will ramp up efforts to hold traffickers accountable.”
On Monday night Masten gave a detailed introduction to human trafficking to a packed Fireside Room.
“Many don’t really understand the extent of human trafficking Masten said. Human trafficking is the second largest illegal trade in the world.”
Although Masten planted the seeds for Project Exodus during the 2007 to 2008 school year his vision did not become a reality until September. Now every Thursday Project Exodus sends a group of 20 to 30 people into Santa Monica and Los Angeles to observe massage parlors karaoke bars and clubs where prostitution and possibly sex trafficking occur.
Many students said they appreciated Project Exodus’ goals.
“It’s something that everyone should do at least once said freshman Houston Costa, who has attended the Thursday night observation about six times. It really opens your eyes to a world you don’t really know about.”
Most people don’t understand the severity of human trafficking in Los Angeles according to freshman Brennen Halliday. Once in Santa Monica a police officer stopped Halliday for loitering. When he explained that he was observing human trafficking for Project Exodus the officer said he did not know even know what ‘human trafficking’ meant.
“Sometimes you can actually see the girls Halliday said. It puts it into a new perspective.”
Halliday also said Project Exodus differs from any volunteer opportunity in which he has participated.
“It was exciting Holliday said. You feel like you’re doing something that actually matters.”
During Monday’s convocation Masten described the various tactics traffickers use to abduct people mostly the poor into slavery.
Masten said that during their four years at Pepperdine all students will come into contact with modern-day slaves whether at a restaurant agricultural field or another kind of establishment.
Sex slavery accounts for 70 percent of modern day slavery according to Project Exodus. Modeling agencies threats to family members study abroad programs scholarships and other travel opportunities are often fronts to trick young women members said.
Debt bondage is another common form of oppression. Compounded with threats and violence slaves must work to pay off an impossibly high debt according to the group.
On Tuesday Project Exodus screened “Trade a movie about a girl abducted from Mexico and forced into sexual slavery in the United States.
It’s a movie that makes you feel uncomfortable said sophomore Aaron McManus. You feel like you’re not supposed to be there.”
For more information about Project Exodus contact Mike Masten at mike@project-exodus.org.