Kendall Barajas

Currently on the Texas A&M Texarkana page there is a group of students raising awareness and funds to put a stop to the sex slave industry. The idea of this started in a Monday night girl’s bible study by one of the RA’s. The group partnered with Tiny Hands International. The funding started by carrying around cups receiving donations.

The group has had two bake sales raising 400 dollars and has recently started selling t-shirts for 15 dollars each. The t-shirts have been seen all around campus slowly spreading the word. The group started with 10 advocates and has increased to over 25 now. “We have received so much support and it is amazing to see how many people really did not know this form of slavery was happening not only today but even in America still”, Group leader Brittani Trumble says. All funds raised by the end of May are going towards the dream center, therapy and getting the victims back on their feet once rescued.

The average entry age into the sex slave industry is 12 years old. Many think that slavery was abolished in 1865 but slavery still exists all over the world. There is a new form of slavery evolving in to the fastest growing business in the world.

Texas being the first state to enforce laws to stop the sex slave industry has been in legislation working on a new bill named HB 8. The hearing was on April 15. The bill, HB 8, makes changes that increase the gravity of human trafficking, and offers assistance and protection for human trafficking victims. The new bill is proposing that violators be charged as second-degree felony rather than a Class A misdemeanor.