By Genae Lako, Donor Relations and Communications
Yesterday some of you may have noticed the red X plastered across your Facebook and Twitter news feed with a #EnditMovement hash tag. Or perhaps some of you may have sported your own X for the day. Vibrantly painted on the back of your hand, the X was a symbol that represented your voice in the fight against injustice. Created by the End it Movement, February 25th is Shine a Light on Slavery day, dedicated to exposing and addressing the issue of human trafficking and modern day slavery that affects millions of people around the globe.
This morning I woke up and couldn’t help but notice the red X on my left hand. Yesterday it was drawn on bright and crisp with a red permanent marker, reminding me of the men, women, and children who are the victims of exploitation. It symbolized how I wanted to use my voice to bring awareness and to engage others on the issue. When I look down at it presently, now faded and smudged from the activities of the previous day, I can’t help but think that the symbol is actually more meaningful today.
Today that X is a reminder that we must not be silent every other day of the year.
That faded symbol is a reminder that the fight against human trafficking is not glamorous and it is not easy. Sometimes you feel worn out, you feel faded by the fight. But it’s also a reminder that every time you use your voice, you act, or engage in the issue that you bring a little more light to the darkness. Today that faded symbol reminds me that I won’t give up the fight.
So my challenge to us all today is this: how are we using our voice today? How are we fighting the trafficking of men, women, and children the other 364 days of the year?
