FLORENCE – With so much going on in the news these days, it is no wonder that many important issues seemingly get swept “under the rug”. The Quad Cities Daily had an opportunity this past week to observe the ramifications of one such example.
A group of mothers decided to gather at the Lauderdale County Courthouse and hold a special prayer service focusing on the continuous issue of human trafficking in Alabama and throughout the United States, of children and other people at risk. Lauren Risner, Nicki Walker and a group of other mothers and fathers characterized human trafficking of minors as a growing problem and felt that they could contribute to the solution by gathering for a prayer on behalf of these exploited persons. July 30th is the United Nations World Day Against Human Trafficking. Walker told us that this issue is close to their hearts, “Because we’re Moms”. She continued, “This should be everybody’s concern, because human trafficking has no geographical limits and has the potential to affect every family.”
In Alabama alone, there have been 82 documented cases of trafficking reported so this year. Nationwide, Walker told us that 1.2-milllion children each year are exploited into the sex trade.
