A Fundraiser by Polaris Project
Polaris Project’s Happy Hour Fundraiser is in a week!
Next week, you can join us in helping fight human trafficking.
Where: Village Pourhouse | 64 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
When: August 2, 2012 | 5pm-8pm
What: For a $10 minimum donation, guests will receive happy hour specials including $2 draft beers and half price well drinks. There will also be a raffle with prizes from Brooklyn Golf Center, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and Brooklyn Brewery! You can RSVP online now to avoid the line!
Already registered and excited to go? Grab a friend, or two or three, and tell them to join us at the Village Pourhouse! Tweet about the event on Twitter, share an update on Facebook, and forward this email to your amazing friends and family! All proceeds go towards supporting our client services and public outreach efforts in New Jersey.
If you cannot attend, you can still support this great cause with a donation. Keep in mind that just $50 can provide food for a survivor and her children for 1 week!
Looking forward to seeing you there,
K. Keisel
NJ Program Coordinator
Help Polaris Project New Jersey support victims of human trafficking at the Wicked Wolf Tavern in Hoboken
Help Polaris Project New Jersey support victims of human trafficking at the Wicked Wolf Tavern in Hoboken on Wednesday November 16, 2011!
Your support is essential to us and the clients we serve. So grab some friends and join us for a great cause!
What: Happy hour fundraiser to benefit victims of human trafficking
When: Wednesday, November 16, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
Where: Wicked Wolf Tavern, 120 Sinatra Dr, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Who: You, your friends, and local anti-trafficking activists.
The $15 entry fee will go towards supporting our client services and public outreach efforts in New Jersey. There will also be a raffle, including a yoga basket (valued at $150) and signed sports jerseys!
RSVP at this link
https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5417/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=45544
Human Trafficking Class Action Case Filed
Louis H. Watson Jr., P.A. confirms that numerous corporations in Florida and Mississippi have been named in a class action complaint on behalf of hundreds of legal immigrant workers alleging human trafficking violations under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act as well as minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Jackson, Mississippi (PRWEB) October 29, 2011
Louis H. Watson Jr., P.A. confirms that forty-eight (48) legal immigrant workers from the Phillippines, Jamaica, Bellarus, Turkey, and Indonesia have filed a class action complaint in Mississippi alleging human trafficking violations under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act as well as minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Court documents show the immigrant workers are contending that they were improperly required to pay visas fees of $5,000 to $8,000 for their H2B visas, which were supposed to be paid by the employer in the United States. The immigrant workers could not afford to pay these fees, so they were sent to specific loan companies in their country of origin where they were required to sign blank checks to pay back the money loaned once it was earned in the United States as well as requiring family members to co-sign the loan agreements so the loan companies would have someone to lean on in their country of origin if they could pay the loans backs.
Court documents show these immigrant workers signed the loan agreements because they had been given employment offers for work in the United States with specific employers at pay rates above minimum wage that would have allowed them to easily repay the loans. However, when the immigrant workers arrived in the United States they discovered the jobs offered to them were not available, and they were instead sent to other employers that had no involvement with their visa applications. The immigrant workers were sent employers that placed them in jobs making less than minimum wage and did not properly pay overtime wages. These positions paid so low the immigrant workers could not afford to pay the loans back. Additionally, in some circumstances the immigrant workers were placed in substandard living conditions, such as, placing several immigrant workers in a filthy, unsecured, and totally bare trailer trucks that had no running water, food, proper beds, or even mattresses.
Plaintiff’s Counsel Nick Norris stated, “From the evidence we have seen so far we believe this is a case of modern day slavery where immigrant workers are being tricked into working in substandard conditions they did not agree to when they left their home countries, and are stuck working these jobs because they have to pay back these loans for visa expenses for their families and can’t go work for other employers in the United States under H2B visa program.”
In the past month, the United States has issued a criminal indictment against Michael V. Lombardi, who is one of the individual defendants, alleging that he illegally trafficked humans. This criminal indictment also alleges that at least one other defendant conspired with Mr. Lombardi to defraud the federal government as to the number of immigrant workers they needed so they can be sent to other employers. Around the same time this indictment was issued, the federal government also declared all the plaintiffs to be human trafficking victims so they could remain in the United States legally while they pursue their legal claims against the defendants.
The case is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The case name is Ferdinand Antigo, et al. v. Michael V. Lombardi, et al, Civil Action No.1:11-CV-408-HSO-RHW.
Copywright http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/10/prweb8920562.htm
See Complaint http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2011/10/28/8920562/2011-10-28%20-%20Complaint.pdf
Mexican President Changes Constitution to Fight Human Trafficking
Mexico’s president approved several changes to the country’s constitution Wednesday aimed at cracking down on human trafficking. President Felipe Calderon announced two of the changes – one that requires those accused of human trafficking to be imprisoned during trials, and one that guarantees anonymity of victims who denounce the crime. ”
Earlier this year a report from Mexico City’s human rights commission estimated that 10,000 women were victims of human trafficking in Mexico’s capital, but there were only 40 investigations of the crime and three convictions in the city in 2010.
On Wednesday, Calderon asked lawmakers and citizens alike to take action. “We have to create a unified front to end human trafficking in Mexico,” he said. “This front is not limited to police or officials, this front starts in the streets, in the neighborhoods and in the communities.”
Copyright – CNN’s Rey Rodriguez and CNNMexico.com contributed to this report.
Full official story on
Common Myths and Misconceptions about Human Trafficking
Is sex trafficking the only form of human trafficking? Are victims of human trafficking all poor and uneducated? These are just a few of the misconceptions that many individuals have on human trafficking. Read a list of the Top 10 Myths and Misconceptions about Human Trafficking presented by Polaris Project.
Common Myths and Misconceptions about Human Trafficking
Attorneys General Unite against Human Trafficking
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, the 2011-2012 President of the National Association of Attorneys General, has chosen human trafficking as the focus of his presidential initiative. This will involve the formation of a Presidential Leadership Council consisting of 10 Attorneys General, with the support of all 50 states Attorneys General.
“Pillars of Hope: Attorneys General Unite against Human Trafficking” is built upon the following four pillars: 1) increased coordination of victim services, 2) improved methods of compiling data on state level human trafficking cases, 3) stronger laws to prosecute traffickers, and 4) increased public awareness.
This will result in major increases in political will for fighting human trafficking systemically across all 50 states. Having a major law enforcement figure like the Attorney General in each state use his/her political leverage to support passage of certain laws and to implement laws is an opportunity to increase prosecutions of traffickers and johns, and to go after certain human trafficking networks.
The NAAG President’s Initiative will also enable the anti-trafficking movement to improve police training efforts, to support research and data collection efforts, and provide increased victim care – which are just a few of the other potential results.
Polaris Project and Microsoft Lexis Nexis is working together as key advisors to the NAAG.
Polaris is Hosting a Bowl-A-Thon to benefit victims of Human trafficking in NJ
Looking for a fun night out for a good cause? Polaris Project is holding our first annual bowl-a-thon to benefit victims of human trafficking in the New Jersey area!
A common misconception is that human trafficking only happens in foreign countries like Cambodia and India, while that’s true, it also happens in our local neighborhoods. Each day, pimps victimize women and children on the streets of New Jersey and New York, and immigrants from foreign countries are brought into the U.S. to work as nannies and housekeepers under slave conditions. You can help us assist these victims by attending our bowl-a-thon on Saturday, May 7.
Bowlers are asked to contribute a minimum of $25 that will help us support trafficking survivors as they move forward with their lives. Many of these survivors come to us with no personal possessions, and are in dire need of clothing and other material assistance. Your monetary support will help Polaris Project sustain vital client services like case management, job training, ESL courses, transitional housing, mental health support, group therapy sessions, food and clothing assistance, legal advocacy and medical referrals. Furthermore, local businesses are matching personal donations dollar for dollar, donating directly to New Jersey’s victim support efforts. To participate, please form or join a team of six (6) bowlers. The highest-scoring individual and highest-scoring team will receive prizes!
What: Bowl-a-thon
When: Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Brunswick Zone Lanes 679 Washington Ave., Belleville, NJ 07109
Registration Deadline: April 15, 2011.
Details: We ask that each participant contribute a $25 minimum registration fee. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the next steps to start fundraising!
Help us spread the word about this event on Facebook and tell your friends to join us on May 7! Please contact Carrie at 973-624-5454 or by email at with any questions.
We hope to see you there!
Polaris Project New Jersey
Georgia House Passes New Bill
Associated Press – March 2, 2011 12:54 PM ET
ATLANTA (AP) – A bill that makes it easier to prosecute human traffickers and keeps them in prison longer if convicted has cleared the Georgia House.
Rep. Ed Lindsey, who sponsored the bill, said his goal is to get human traffickers off the street and to help protect their victims.
The measure would increase minimum sentencing from 1 year to 10 years and adds a fine of up to $100,000 for a conviction. If the victim is a minor, the trafficker would face no less than 25 years in prison.
Experts say the practice is the third largest and fastest growing criminal activity in the world after the drugs and arms trade and is a threat to national security.
The bill passed 168-1 on Wednesday. It now goes to the Senate.
Human Traffickers operating in the Mid-South
A four-month investigation by the local human rights group Operation Broken Silence found most of the activity centers on sex, and much of it starts online.
“Before Craigslist had a lot of pressure placed on them, a lot of the ads were on Craigslist,” said Ryan Dalton of Operation Broken Silence. “They have since moved to Backpage.”
Backpage.com is a web site where you can buy just about anything.
“Someone can log on to the web site and browse like they would for anything – a new car, a lawn mower, but they can also search for people,” Dalton said.
According to Operation Broken Silence, during the last quarter of 2010, more than 1,900 ads posted on Backpage listed women for sale in the Memphis and Tunica region. The ads were for things like “Busty and Thick”, “Sweet Treat”, and “Super Sexy Irish Doll.”
According to this research, Sam Cooper Highway, Memphis International Airport and the Wolfchase Mall area. People aren’t sold in these places – they’re just pick-up points. Researchers say the Wolfchase shopping area is appealing to human traffickers because it’s close to the interstate and there are lot of people with money in their pockets there.
Operation Broken Silence says Memphis International Airport is a hot spot to buy humans because of how many businessmen are traveling alone, and because it’s close to strip clubs. The FBI says sex slaves are brought in from all over the Mid-South and around the world.
Attorneys General in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi joined 18 other states in asking Backpage.com to close its adult services section back in September. But it’s still open, and busier than ever, though users must agree to report suspected exploitation of minors and human trafficking to the appropriate authorities.
The FBI would not comment on the research conducted by Operation Broken Silence specifically, but they have seen the study.
Read more:
•Operation Broken Silence: http://www.operationbrokensilence.org/
For the full article:
http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14156211
Foundation Tells Texas to Raise the Bar in Human Trafficking Laws
Shared Hope International a organization working in combating human trafficking did an evaluation of different states, grading them on the efforts and progress made in preventing sex trafficking. The founder former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith gave Texas a “C”. The event yesterday, sponsored by Traffick911 in Mansfield was organized to bring awareness to the issue of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.
Hopefully, with events and organizations like Shared Hope International and Traffick911 progress will be made in rescuing and preventing Texas youth from being bought and sold.
Joy Brooks of Fort Worth Human Trafficking Examiner
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Foundation Tells Texas to Raise the Bar In Human Trafficking Laws – Fort Worth Human Trafficking | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-trafficking-in-fort-worth/foundation-tells-texas-to-raise-the-bar-concerning-human-trafficking#ixzz1FMYt0EW2
NYC LAWYERS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING 