DIFFERENCE MAKER: Human Trafficking

SA: A young woman who was abused, exploited and silenced has reclaimed her voice MT: My name is Melanie Thompson and I was trafficked when I was twelve years old SA: She's now twenty-eight; when Thompson was twelve in Queens after leaving the movies one day she encountered friends, older boys from school MT: They were feeding us a lot of alcohol and I blacked out and when I woke up my two girlfriends were gone and I was raped by one of those boys who later then brought me to an older man who told me that I wasn't going anywhere SA: He locked Thompson in a closet in an abandoned building and forced her into prostitution for over a month until someone tipped off police BS: In New York City there's estimated twenty-six thousand people being trafficked every day SA: Beck Sullivan with the nonprofit group Restore NYC BS: We have case management, counseling, we help with housing, so that someone can not only just leave the trafficking and live and survive, but they can actually thrive SA: When Melanie Thompson was rescued she was put into foster care; she says today, things are changing MT: We have successfully been able to pass laws that protect those who are exploited; I will say however, we still have a long way to go SA: Her mission now is helping others who are being exploited MT: If there are any survivors listening to this, know that you are not alone, know that it's a big city people full of a lot of people, but there are resources, there are survivors that are here to help you, there are people that are willing to help you and there is life after exploitation SA: Sean Adams, WCBS 880 News