Inspiring Abolitionist Quotes

Not all of these quotes are specifically directed towards the abolition of slavery, but they have inspired me in the abolitionist cause. If you have any other great quotes, please share them in the comments section below.

Thank You,
AbolitionistJB


United States Declaration of Independence
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. "

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
(1929 - 1968) Doctor, Reverend, Civil Rights Leader 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."

Frederick Douglas
(1818 - 1895) Former Slave, Abolitionist Leader 

"They would not call it slavery, but some other name. Slavery has been fruitful in giving herself names ... and it will call itself by yet another name; and you and I and all of us had better wait and see what new form this old monster will assume, in what new skin this old snake will come forth." 


"No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck."

"Money is the measure of morality, and the success or failure of slavery as a money-making system, determines with many whether...it should be maintained or abolished." 


Abraham Lincoln
(1809 - 1865) 16th President of the United States 

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

"And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons. "

Margaret Mead
(1971 -1978) Author, Anthropologist

" Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

William Wilberforce
(1759 - 1833) British Politician, Abolitionist

“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”

“So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the Trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for Abolition. Let the consequences be what they would, I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”

Booker T. Washington
(1856 - 1915) Emancipated Slave, Education Reformer

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."

"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him."

"There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. "

Jimi Hendrix
(1942 - 1970) Musician, Poet 

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."


Mary Angelou
(1928 - ) Poet, Author, Civil Rights Activist

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."





Jonathan Blanchard
(1811 - 1892) Pastor, Educator, Abolitionist

The slave-holder's rule contradicts this fundamental truth of God's word, that "God has made of one blood all the nations of emn," and if of one blood, they are of equal blood."



Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803 -1882) Author, Poet, Philosopher

"When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers."



John Wesley
(1703-1791) Pastor, Abolitionist

"Let me do all the good I can, to all the people I can, as often as I can, for I shall not pass this way again."

Edmund Burke
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Fabien Cousteau
“During challenging times and when impassioned to act, human beings can be capable of miracles.” 

Rob Morris
“Ending human trafficking is not idealistic or naive. It is audacious. And it is people of audacity who change the world.” 

Cornel West
“To get up in the morning & do the monumental tasks that face us, our labor is best fueled by love.”

Hannah Song
“The Underground Railroad wasn’t started by secret ninjas but everyday activists.” 


Scriptures
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." - Proverbs 31:8-9

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." -Isaiah 61:1

“[Christ] inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto  him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” - 2 Nephi 26:33

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" - 1 John 3:17

IJM Celebrates 15 Years of Justice

15 years ago, IJM began in response to one massive problem: poor children and families around the world desperately needed a defender.

Today, because of your partnership, we have thousands of reasons to celebrate -- from girls rescued from brothels, to families freed from slavery; from traffickers and rapists held accountable to justice systems changing to protect the poor.

Over the next 15 years, we are embracing a bold vision to protect millions. Thank you for walking with us -- as we celebrate 15 years of justice, we celebrate this movement of friends and supporters.

SOURCE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9rQ_T8zfKsk

Report: Phones Become the 'Frontline' of Human Sex Trafficking

This same technology will be used to fight sex trafficking, Obama previously warned

By JASON KOEBLER

Much like drug dealers, human sex traffickers have started largely relying on prepaid mobile phones to conduct business, according to a new report by the University of Southern California.

"Mobile phones are playing a far more central role in this than we had ever thought," says Mark Latonero, co-author of the report, The Rise of Mobile and the Diffusion of Technology-Facilitated Trafficking. "Mobile is the new frontline battleground in the fight against trafficking."

Whereas just a few years ago, many human traffickers used Craigslist, Facebook, and other social media sites to recruit sex workers and solicit clients, much of that has moved over to cell phones, Latonero says.

[READ: Meet The Nonprofit Helping the White House Stop Human Trafficking]

According to a recent report, 19 percent of all phone numbers used on a Los Angeles adult online classified site were registered to MetroPCS, just one of many pre-paid cell phone carriers. That percentage is more than five times MetroPCS's national market share of 3.4 percent.

There has been a renewed interest in taking down human trafficking rings since President Barack Obama spoke on the subject to the United Nations in September. He said at the time trafficking "must be called by its true name: modern slavery."

It has been estimated that more than 20 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking each year—many of them women and children.

[READ: FCC Cracks Down on Cell Phone 'Jammers']

The anonymity provided by "burner" cell phones—they can be bought at nearly any convenience store without an ID—makes them attractive to drug dealers and human traffickers. They are also relatively cheap and can be thrown away if a criminal feels like the police might be on his or her trail.

"Looking back at our study, it seems so obvious that the business of human trafficking would be using mobile phones," he says. "But we weren't aware of it before and a lot of law enforcement offices weren't focused on it either."

Though it makes sense that traffickers would use prepaid phones to do their business, Latonero says they use them in a slightly different way than drug dealers. Traffickers can use cell phones to set up meetings with clients, but they can also use a smart phone's GPS signal to make sure the people they're exploiting don't try to run away.

"They can keep tabs on those they're exploiting with the various apps that tell them where their [workers] are," Latonero says. "There's a control element to it."

CONTINUE READING: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/16/report-phones-become-the-frontline-of-human-sex-trafficking?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

The New IJM Advocacy Handbook

I received the information below in an email from the International Justice Mission. This is a great resource with a free printable PDF of The Advocate's Handbook. It's a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to get involved to help end modern-day slavery.

My favorite section is the Lobbying section with tips and guidelines on how to setup a Lobby Meeting, This includes a sample meeting request form, discussion points, etc... This is something I have not done yet myself, but using this guide I plan to.  What makes this even more effective is using the "report card" follow-up sheet to really learn from the experience and make improvements for future Lobby Meetings.

There are a number of other great ideas and tools, but I also found the "100 Postcard Challenge" to be an intriguing idea. It's on page 45.

Have you seen The Advocate’s Handbook?

We are so grateful for everything you do to advocate on behalf of victims of modern-day slavery, so we wanted to make sure you were equipped with all the tools you need! The Advocate’s Handbook will help you raise your voice and build an advocacy campaign that will help end modern-day slavery.

Get Your Copy of The Advocate’s Handbook »

How to Spot a Victim of Domestic Violence

Health-Care Pro Discusses the Many Warning Signs

In the United States, women are assaulted or beaten once every nine seconds; worldwide, one in three women have been battered, raped or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to women’s advocacy organizations.

“That means most of us – while grocery shopping, at work or at home – come across several women a day who have either been abused, or are currently enduring abuse,” says Linda O’Dochartaigh, a health professional and author of Peregrine (www.lavanderkatbooks.com). “It’s a terrible fact of life for too many women, but if there is something we can do about it and we care about fellow human beings, then we must try.”

There are several abuse resources available to women who are being abused, or friends of women who need advice, including:

• TheHotline.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)
• HelpGuide.org, provides unbiased, advertising-free mental health information to give people the self-help options to help people understand, prevent, and resolve life’s challenges
• VineLink.com, allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender is released,  transferred, or escapes
• DAHMW.org, 1-888-7HELPLINE, offers crisis intervention and support services for victims of intimate partner violence and their families

Perhaps the best thing friends and family can do for a woman enduring domestic abuse is to be there for her – not only as a sympathetic ear, but also as a source of common sense that encourages her to take protective measures, O’Dochartaigh says. Before that, however, loved ones need to recognize that help is needed.

O’Dochartaigh reviews some of the warning signs:

• Clothing – Take notice of a change in clothing style or unusual fashion choices that would allow marks or bruises to be easily hidden. For instance, someone who wears long sleeves even in the dog days of summer may be trying to hide signs of abuse.
• Constant phone calls – Many abusers are very controlling and suspicious, so they will call their victims multiple times each day to “check in.” This is a subtle way of manipulating their victims, to make them fearful of uttering a stray word that might alert someone that something is wrong. Many abusers are also jealous, and suspect their partner is cheating on them, and the constant calls are a way of making sure they aren’t with anyone they aren’t supposed to be around.
• Unaccountable injuries – Sometimes, obvious injuries such as arm bruises or black eyes are a way to show outward domination over the victim. Other times, abusers harm areas of the body that won’t be seen by family, friends and coworkers.
• Frequent absences – Often missing work or school and other last-minute plan changes may be a woman hiding abuse, especially if she is otherwise reliable.
• Excessive guilt & culpability – Taking the blame for things that go wrong, even though she was clearly not the person responsible – or she is overly-emotional for her involvement – is a red flag.
• Fear of conflict – Being brow-beaten or physically beaten takes a heavy psychological toll, and anxiety bleeds into other relationships.
• Chronic uncertainty – Abusers often dominate every phase of a victim’s life, including what she thinks she likes, so making basic decisions can prove challenging.

About Linda O’Dochartaigh

Linda O’Dochartaigh has worked in health care is an advocate for victims of child abuse and domestic violence.  She wants survivors to know that an enriched, stable and happy life is available to them. O’Dochartaigh is the mother of three grown children and is raising four adopted grandchildren. 

Update from NGO Free The Slaves

Lincoln's Unfinished Job This month marks an important milestone in American history: it has been 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. On September 22, 1862, Lincoln ordered the release of slaves in Confederate states during the Civil War. This anniversary is what educators call a "teachable moment." That's because outlawing slavery didn't end it. There are more slaves in the world today than when Lincoln was president. It's up to us to finish what Lincoln started, and we can start by spreading the word that slavery is about more than history. The Free the Slaves website is a key tool for building awareness -- with Education Packs for teachers and students, a timeline about the history of slavery, first-person transcripts and films where modern slavery survivors speak out, and details of our innovative frontline solutions to help slaves break free and stay free. Here's something to think about: what would you advise Lincoln to do about modern slavery if he were president today? Start a conversation about that at schools, churches, dinner parties, book groups and community gatherings. It will let your friends know that slavery still exists, and that they should join you in helping to end it. Inspiring India Rescue: "Running to Freedom" We have an amazing success story to report, an example that demonstrates our model of battling slavery through community action is working. One man's escape in India has been leveraged into freedom for 27 adults and 24 children. The man, Ram ji, escaped from a brick factory and sought advice from a local community vigilance committee. These committees, trained by Free the Slaves and our local partners, work like a neighborhood watch for traffickers. The committee asked Ram ji if he would help everyone escape the factory by returning and preparing them for a mass rescue. Despite the danger, Ram ji went back. And when authorities raided the factory, 51 people put slavery behind them. One survivor summed up the excitement simply: "I'm running to freedom!" Free the Slaves South Asia Director Supriya Awasthi was on hand to ensure authorities did a thorough job. She helped children climb into rescue trucks. "As I lifted those kids," Supriya says, "I knew they would remember this day, and they would never get on another truck to be taken off to slavery." You can see more photos and read Supriya's account of this rescue on theFTS blog. She's now following-up with villagers to ensure they don't fall back into slavery. Free the Slaves has supported 10 similar raids in northern India in the past year. You can learn more about our community-centered approach on our India webpage. Historic Progress: U.S. Industry to Help Fight Congo Slavery This summer brought a watershed victory for the corporate transparency and anti-slavery movements. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) now requires companies to investigate their supply chains and disclose if their products contain minerals from conflict areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or surrounding areas. If their products do contain "conflict minerals," companies must report what they're doing to ensure the profits don't go to abusive armed groups. The new rule is important because conflict minerals not only fuel one of history's deadliest wars. Free the Slaves research has documented that rebel groups and army commanders force Congo residents into slavery at many mining sites. Free the Slaves worked with other activists, corporations and investment firms to support the new reporting requirements. Congress directed the SEC to develop the new rule as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Four minerals are targeted for corporate disclosure: tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. All are commonly used to manufacture electronic devices – from cell phones and televisions to computers and high-tech components. "It's an historic day, both for Congo and for the movement toward responsible investment at large," says Free the Slaves Programs Director Karen Stauss. The next step: persuading Congress to require companies to investigate their supply chains for all forms of slavery, not just Congo conflict minerals. You can learn more about the impact of Congo slavery, and your connection to it as a consumer, in our mini-documentary: Slavery in Your Pocket. 6th Grade Musicians Support Free the Slaves It's remarkable how people find creative ways to support the work of Free the Slaves. Sometimes, those contributions come from surprising places. We received several letters over the summer from sixth graders at the Mariposa School in Agoura Hills, California. The students had partnered with a professional musician to create a jazz CD called "One Step Closer: Mariposa 6th Graders Jazzing for a Better Future." "We are students trying to make a difference in the world," wrote Joe, one of the students, in his letter to Free the Slaves. "New sun, new day, new beginnings." The CD raised money for a variety of causes, including $600 that the students themselves decided to send to Free the Slaves. "We chose our organizations by calling a big meeting," explained Max, another student. "We thought you were definitely the best charity for slavery." A big thanks to musician Robert Kyle, teacher Paul Astin and students of the Mariposa School. Your efforts will make a difference for people in slavery around the world. Free the Slaves Wins Federal Charity Approval If you work for the U.S. government, you've probably heard of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). It allows you to automatically make charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations directly from your paycheck each month. We're proud to say that Free the Slaves has again been approved for these donations from federal government employees. Our CFC number is 11482. Recurring donations, no matter how large or small, are vital so Free the Slaves can budget for ongoing frontline work in India, Nepal, Ghana, Congo, Brazil and Haiti. If you're a federal employee, please consider making a recurring contribution. If you're not a federal employee, you can still make a monthly gift to Free the Slaves through our website donation page. Contributions are tax deductable. Thanks! FIND OUT MORE: FREETHESLAVES.NET | FTSBLOG.NET | TWITTER | FACEBOOK  Free the Slaves 1320 19th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 USA (202) 775-7480 info@freetheslaves.net Content Copyright ©2012 Free the Slaves. All rights reserved.

Upcoming Run 4 Justice 5K in Dallas

Announcing the Run4Justice annual 5K race in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area on Saturday 10/27!  This is a great local event put together by the 121 Community Church and the International Justice Mission.

Last year over 1,300 people participated in the race. Having run in my share of 5K's, that is a lot of participants. This year they expect to have over 1,500 runners, which is great for raising awareness and funds to combat human trafficking. 

121 Community Church has a longstanding relationship with IJM and this event was the brainchild of one of our Local Mission Pastors looking for a way to educate & mobilize people in DFW to address oppression around the world, and particularly in Cambodia.  

For more details and to register for the race, go to http://www.run4justice.com/

2012 Run4Justice | Promo from 121 Community Church on Vimeo.

National Call-in Day to Pass TVPRA

Today is the National Call-in Day to Pass the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act! Thank you to those of you who have already committed to calling your senators. Today, thousands of abolitionists around the country will raise a groundswell of support for this life-saving legislation to fight trafficking at home and abroad.

Calling will take about 2 minutes per office — just visit IJM’s National Call-In Day webpage to find the contact information for your senators, along with a sample script to help you with your calls.

To make sure the message is heard loud and clear, we want to generate 3,000 calls, coming from all 50 states—so we need your help! When you make and log your calls, I hope you’ll invite your friends to do the same. The more voices we have, the more powerful this day of action will be!

Thank you for raising your voice on behalf of those in slavery.

New App helps Combat Human Trafficking in South Africa

Not For Sale is joining forces with Mxit, Africa’s largest social networking service, to combat human trafficking in South Africa.

With over 40 million users in South Africa alone, Mxit is Africa’s largest social media platform in Africa--larger than Facebook or Twitter. Not For Sale and MixIt have developed an educational platform on human trafficking that will be utilized as a survey for mobile phones.

Using the format of 11 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions on human trafficking, users of Mxit are
encouraged and incentivized through gamification (offering airtime, credits etc.) to take
the survey produced by Not For Sale. At the end of the survey, if users feel or know
someone affected by trafficking, a toll-free number is provided for them to report
instances.

Since 2010, Not For Sale South Africa has assisted law enforcement in over 70 cases of
human trafficking. The most prevalent forms of human trafficking seen in South Africa
are sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and agricultural labor.
Though, sexual exploitation makes up 75% of those having survived trafficking.

Internally, most victims come from poor regions or rural areas and informal settlements.
They are lured by hopes of a possible job in the city. Recruiters are often individuals
known intimately by the victim. Internationally, women and girls living in poor regions
of countries like China, Russia, Thailand, and Bulgaria are trafficked to South Africa for
sex. Of the cases Not For Sale South Africa has assisted with since 2010, 60% have been
foreigners.

With access to Mxit’s user base of close to 40 million mobile customers, we expect up to
150,000 people to answer the survey in the next couple of months. This will allow Not
For Sale to reach a significant number of individuals with up-to-date information and
resources on human trafficking, in areas where such information is usually inaccessible.
This outreach will significantly increase the general understanding of human trafficking
in South Africa, while utilizing data to create economic opportunities that will prevent
human trafficking in South Africa before it begins. This project is piloting in South
Africa; however, Not For Sale and Mxit have plans to extend the platform to a number of
other African countries.

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/ 
Not For Sale
270 Capistrano Road, Suite 2
Half Moon Bay, Calif.
www.notforsalecampaign.org
For More Information Contact:
Jessica Henry 415-794-9049
Jessica@notforsalecampaign.org
About Not For Sale
Not For Sale creates tools that engage business, government, and grassroots in order to incubate and grow
social enterprises to benefit enslaved and vulnerable communities. There are over 30 million slaves in the world
today, more than at any other point in history. Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry
worldwide and generates more than $32 billion per year.

Bangladesh trafficked women recount ordeal in India

By Anbarasan EthirajanBBC News, Dhaka

A group of Bangladeshi women who were illegally taken into India three years ago have been describing their ordeal at the hands of human traffickers.

Most of these women were forced into prostitution in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Pune.

Around 48 women and a child were rescued by an Indian non-governmental organisation which handed them over to Bangladeshi authorities at the weekend.

It was one of the largest groups of Bangladeshi women ever to be returned.

The women said they were tricked into being taken across the border.

"A girl in the village gave us something to eat and said we could go for a picnic to neighbouring India. Later on we realised we were drugged. We crossed the border by walking through paddy fields in the night," Monica, 22, told the BBC.

"When we came to our senses, we realised that we had been sold to an Indian agent."  CONTINUE READING...