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God’s Children
Are NOT for Sale
Mississippians Against Human Trafficking
hosted a fundraising event and early showing
of The Sound of Freedom on July 3, at Cinemark
in Pearl. The Sound of Freedom is a film produced
by and starring Jim Caviezel and sheds light on
the harrowing reality of child trafficking in our
world. It is a dark reality one would hope no
human wants to exist. But unfortunately, it does,
and this film tells a story that needs to be told.
The Sound of Freedom was initially set to be in
theaters for one week, but it is currently still in theaters and will
continue to be as long as there is a demand. It has far exceeded
expectations at the box office, even surpassing Indiana Jones and the
Dial of Destiny in the first week. It has, at this point, netted 657
percent of its two-million-dollar goal.
The film follows the work of Tim Ballard, a federal agent who
leaves his job to rescue trafficked children in South America. When
his character is asked why he would do this, he responds with, quite
possibly, the most unforgettable quote of the movie: “God’s children
are not for sale.” The film tells the gut-wrenching story of a young
brother and sister sold into sex slavery, an industry that profits an
estimated 150 billion dollars globally each year, according to the
Department of Homeland Security.
Upon leaving the theater, it is impossible to shake the fact that
the audience did not only sit through two hours of a dark, fictional
thriller, but through the real-life story of these children. This is a
part of their story and the story of so many others. It is quite unlikely
viewers will leave unchanged, not wanting to do something to stop
this from being a reality, for even one more child.
After the credits roll, Jim Caviezel shares a few words and more
staggering statistics, as well as ways to help support this film and the
mission behind it. Viewers are provided a QR code with a link to
the Angel Studio site, where tickets can be purchased in advance to
pay it forward, fill more theaters, and bring awareness to more
people in more places.
The event, hosted by Mississippians
Against Trafficking, was hugely successful,
selling out well in advance. The non-profit was
able to send a portion of proceeds to Operation
Underground Railroad, as well as take another
step toward reaching fundraising goals, helping
to make the work that needs to be done in our
area a possibility. Human trafficking looks
different here than it does in South America,
but nevertheless it is a dark reality that
happens all around us.
The Center for Violence Prevention serves over 200 victims per
year, both in shelter and out, and they are just one shelter. In 2021,
233 reports of human trafficking were reported to the National
Human Trafficking hotline from Mississippi. Of those 233 cases,
316 victims were identified, and a startling 74 percent of the victims
were under the age of 18. Of the juveniles, 81 percent were girls.
If you would like to join the fight against human trafficking in
our state, please visit www.nomorems.org where you can find more
information on upcoming events and ways to offer financial
support. MSAHT is currently working to reach fundraising goals,
which will help to purchase billboards and radio ads to help spread
awareness during Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January.
Additionally, the organization is also preparing to host Awareness
2023 in October, a fundraising dinner, which will be held in
Hernando this year. Funding raised by MSAHT also goes toward
an independent living assistance program, and they hope to start a
workforce development program in 2024.
As always, if you see something, say something by calling the
National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
Hometown RANKIN • 37