OKLAHOMA CITY —
In observance of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Task Force invites all Oklahomans to attend a Candlelight Vigil to honor the Victims of Human Trafficking at 6 p.m. Friday at the South Plaza of the Oklahoma State Capitol Building. Battery-operated candles and blue pin-on ribbons will be available for participants.
Cindy Lankford, wife of U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Edmond, will open the event with a prayer, followed by Emily Elkins of LifeChurch with “Amazing Grace.”
Attorney General Scott Pruitt will present a proclamation from Gov. Mary Fallin, followed by Wilma Lively of Day Spring Villa, speaking on behalf of victims. Pastor Mark Crow of Victory Church will close the vigil in prayer.
The Oklahoma City Mayor’s Office will illuminate the Skydance Bridge in the color blue in observance of the Vigil and Human Trafficking Awareness color.
“According to experts, there are more slaves in the world today than at any other time in human history,” said Major Leisa Hall, Divisional Secretary for Women’s Ministries with The Salvation Army Arkansas/Oklahoma. “Free the Slaves conservatively estimates there are 27 million men, women and children in slavery at any given time. Eighty percent of all victims are female, and half of them are children. The victims of human trafficking are trapped in a life of misery … often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or taken to grueling jobs and forced to work for little or no pay.
“Human trafficking is a $32 billion a year industry, second only to drugs as the largest criminal enterprise in the world. Shockingly, the average entry age for trafficked victims in the sex industry is 12-14 years old. Even here in America, our nation’s sons and daughters are being forced to work as sex slaves and we need ... help to get the word out.”
President Barack Obama called attention to human trafficking in a recent proclamation.
“This month, we rededicate ourselves to stopping one of the greatest human rights abuses of our time,” the proclamation states. “Around the world, millions of men, women and children are bought, sold, beaten and abused, locked in compelled service and hidden in darkness. They toil in factories and fields; in brothels and sweatshops; at sea, abroad, and at home. They are the victims of human trafficking — a crime that amounts to modern-day slavery. As Americans, we have long rejected such cruelty. We have recognized it as a debasement of our common humanity and an affront to the principles we cherish. And for more than a century, we have made it a national mission to bring slavery and human trafficking to an end.”
Suzi Hanson, OATH (Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans) Coalition volunteer, said Oklahoma is one of the top states in the nation for human trafficking.
“Geographically, Oklahoma is the crossroads of the nation; we have three major interstates that run right through the heart of our state,” Hanson said. “Traffickers are driving through our state every day. Human Trafficking is an issue of vulnerability and Oklahoma is in the top for all the wrong things — teenage pregnancy, teenage homelessness, child abuse to name a few, and we are in the bottom for the wrong things as well — 49th in education and according to the last census, we were 46th in per capita income. If you are a bad guy looking for vulnerable, broken, hurting, young girls, Oklahoma is the place to be.”
Three other events highlighting human trafficking are upcoming.
The OATH (Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans) fundraising luncheon will be from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Miss Oklahoma 2012 Alicia Clifton will emcee the luncheon, where attendees will learn more about human trafficking and how it relates to Oklahoma. A survivor of human trafficking, trafficked here in Oklahoma, will share her story.
An online discussion on providing services to runaway youth and victims of human trafficking will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 22. Go to ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum/asp/participate.asp for instructions on how to participate.
A Community Summit on Human Trafficking will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m., at a location to be announced.
Local News
Candlelight vigil to honor victims of human trafficking
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
- Local News
-
-
Catholic leaders mark Fortnight for Freedom
Local Catholic leaders are calling for believers to join an interfaith prayer campaign promoting renewed respect for life, traditional marriage and religious liberty.
On the eve of a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding same sex marriage, and the Aug. 1 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate, which forces employers to pay for contraceptive services despite their religious and moral objections, U.S. bishops called for the second annual Fortnight for Freedom June 21-July 4. -
AAA: Hands-free texting more distracting than talking
If you own a newer car or smartphone you are likely aware that speech-to-text technology exists.
The 2013 Ford Focus ST has technology that will read incoming texts from a connected phone and translate commonly used abbreviations. You also can respond with a set of up to 15 preset outgoing messages. -
Fence agreement nets commission approval for senior housing plan
A good-faith fence line agreement brought the Edmond Planning Commission to recommend approval for the final plat of Mon Abri. This week’s vote was 4-0.
Developer Ron Walters plans to build a group of duplexes and “fiveplexes” for senior citizens. Mon Abri is proposed to be on 87 acres of property on the east side of Broadway, south of Covell Road, said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner. -
Arcadia Lake reopens today
All four public access parks at Arcadia Lake reopened this morning at 6 o’clock. The parks have been closed since June 3 due to flooding from heavy rainfall and the ensuing runoff.
-
Company shoots video footage in downtown Edmond
If you were driving in downtown Edmond mid-day Tuesday you might have seen what looked like a film crew at work on a street corner.
-
Covell/I-35 work on track
The hotel and conference center project on Interstate 35 is very much on track, said John Weeman of Partners In Development told The Edmond Sun on Tuesday. Weeman is in the process of selecting one of three people for a construction partner, he said.
-
2 officers suffer injuries in drug-related pursuit
Two police officers suffered injuries during a call in which suspects fled in a vehicle and possessed meth, police said.
-
City Council approves church remodel
A request by Redeemed Christian Church of God Kingdom Chapel to remodel a facility at 307 E. Danforth for a church was approved recently by the City Council.
“The church wants to rent a 2,302-square-foot space in the office building on the north side of Danforth, east of the convenience store, south of the Timber Ridge Addition,” said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner. “There will be no new construction other than interior remodeling to accommodate the church.
The church does not request changes to the one driveway or sidewalk of the property, Schiermeyer said. No changes will be made to the outside of the two-story brick veneer building. A sprinkler system will not be required. -
Arcadia Lake nears reopening for summer season
Work on reclaiming Arcadia Lake has been ongoing since high water forced its closure earlier this month.
-
Professor: Constitutional heritage can bring sense of belonging to U.S. citizens
Education is fundamental in preparing a citizenry to live under a free constitutional republic, said Kyle Harper, founding director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage at the University of Oklahoma. Harper is also the senior vice provost at OU as well as an associate professor of Classics and Letters.
A sense of identity by belonging to a tradition is an ingredient in being part of a free republic, he said while speaking to the Edmond Republican Women’s Club on Monday. An educated citizen must be aware, alert and intelligent to care about public affairs, he said. - More Local News Headlines
-
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Paula Deen Admits to Using N Word
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Men's Wearhouse Founder Fired
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Miss Utah Explains Rambling Response
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
