2019 Carondelet Magazine FINAL

Allies Practice Solidarity
BY KIM WESTERMAN
Standing with Survivors of Human Trafficking
BY DIANE SMITH, CSJ
One of the buzzwords of our current moment is “ally.” In so many movements for justice, we
hear about people who are marginalized and their “allies.” An ally might be a white person
who works for racial equity alongside their Black and brown brothers and sisters, a straight
person who supports LGBTQ+ causes, an able-bodied person who advocates for people with
disabilities, or any person with power who partners with people who are without it.
But being a true ally requires more than just supporting a cause. It requires solidarity.
To be in solidarity with
someone means that an ally
must consciously listen to
those who are affected by
injustice. If race, gender, or
abilities provide someone
with privilege and thus
power, solidarity calls them
to allow those without power
to do the talking.
“I will move from comfort
to uncomfort, from
comprehension to ignorance,
from security to insecurity,”
said Sister Nancy Corcoran,
who allies herself with people
who are Latinx, Muslim,
Black, and transgender. “If I
am to bind to others, I must
listen, be uncomfortable and
become more conscious of
our differences.”
“From my perspective as
an African-American,” said
Sister Sharon Howell, CSJ,
“an ally is someone who is
willing to stand with you,
knowing that they don’t
know what it means to live
your life. They have enough
empathy to know that work
needs to be done to create
an inclusive environment,
what and wherever that is.”
Learning about oppression
and other people’s pain
can be difficult. “What
stands in our way is often
our fear of the unknown,”
said Sister Nancy. “Our
inability to tolerate being
uncomfortable and our being
blind to the existence of our
ignorance and our privilege
in oppressive situations.”
Once allies have listened
and learned, they can
truly stand in solidarity
and support these other
communities.
Being an ally sometimes
involves using one’s power
to help those without it. “I
believe that an ally supports,
upholds, assists, defends,
and speaks out on behalf of,
when this would be helpful,”
said Sister Ida Robertine
Berresheim, who is an
advocate for immigrants
and refugees.
The phrase “when this would
be helpful” is the key. If
members of a community
ask an ally to speak on their
behalf, the ally can use
their power to amplify the
community’s voices.
At the root of all of these
ideas of solidarity, deep
listening, empathy, and
advocacy is love. As Sisters
of St. Joseph, our love of the
dear neighbor compels us to
be their allies.
At a rally in Albany, New York, Sisters Fran Dempsey and Honora
Kinney stand in solidarity with our Muslim and immigrant sisters
and brothers.
“I will move from comfort to
uncomfort, from comprehension
to ignorance, from security to
insecurity. If I am to bind to others,
I must listen, be uncomfortable
and become more conscious of
our differences.”
– NANCY CORCORAN, CSJ
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet envision a world without slavery, and we are working
with many partners to make that a reality.
When we think of human
trafficking, we often
picture women forced into
prostitution, but this is just
one type of trafficking.
Victims of any age and
gender may be forced
into a wide variety of labor
including agricultural work,
manufacturing, janitorial
services, hotel work,
construction, domestic
servitude, health services,
hair and nail styling, and
strip club dancing.
Poverty, lack of education,
immigration policy,
environmental conditions,
fractured families, and a
lack of good job
opportunities are the real
causes of human trafficking.
Human traffickers prey on
their victims by promising
a life of hope and greater
opportunity. Instead of
delivering people to better
lives, traffickers unjustifiably
profit from the labor and
toil of their victims, who
they force, through violence
and intimidation, to work in
brothels and factories.
Fortunately, there is more
awareness among law
enforcement agencies,
emergency room personnel,
and those who deal with
the public like airline
employees to recognize
possible victims. Hotel
chains are taking steps to
partner with ECPAT-USA,
a child right’s organization
focused on ending the
sexual exploitation of
children, to establish
policies and procedures to
address trafficking and train
employees to recognize
the signs.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet, Los Angeles
Province are members of
The U.S. Catholic Sisters
Against Human Trafficking.
This group envisions a world
without slavery with a network
of services and resources to
inform the public, prevent
the crime, and assist survivors
to achieve a fulfilling life. As
a collaborative, faith-based
national network, it offers
education, supports access
to survivor services, and
engages in advocacy in an
effort to eradicate modernday
slavery.
You can avoid being an
unwitting contributor to
human trafficking/slavery by
being aware of the products
you purchase. Boycott those
goods that you know are
likely touched by slavery and
replace them with products
that are certified Fair Trade.
Not every industry uses
the Fair Trade certification,
but you can start with small
purchases, such as coffee,
body care products, cocoa,
and garments.
LEARN MORE
Catholic Relief
Services:
crs.org/trafficking
Stop Trafficking
Newsletter:
stopenslavement.org
Polaris Project:
polarisproject.org
14 CARONDELET A PUBLICATION BY THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET 15