It’s a dark, deeply frightening image that many think exists only in far away, third-world countries — young girls brutalized and forced into sex slavery.
(Credit: Not-4-Sale.org)
What most Southwest Riverside residents do not know is that child trafficking happens right here in Riverside County.
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“When I first got involved with this cause (in 2010), it was a $33 billion industry. Today, human trafficking is a $43 billion business,” said Darlene Tarnoski, founder of Women Against Child Trafficking.
Tarnoski said that human trafficking claims over 17, 000 people every year and is quickly overtaking drugs and arms trafficking in volume and severity.
“Many of these children are lured by promises of modeling contracts or an acting career. They may be picked up in a limo. Once they’re in that car, their lives are changed forever,” Tarnoski said, adding that most victims are girls ranging from 12 to 14 years old.
Most shocking for Tarnoski was the revelation that children throughout Southwest Riverside have fallen prey.
“I was blown away. I had no idea this was happening here,” she said.
Through her non-profit foundation, Tarnoski works with authorities to provide support to local children who have been rescued from desperate circumstances, providing emergency shelter and dignity bags to meet the child’s basic and immediate needs.
According to Tarnoski, 44 children were rescued in Riverside County in 2011 and 57 have been recovered in just the first three months of 2012.
She said rescues have taken place most recently in La Cresta, Lake Elsinore and Corona.
With many children gang-raped and brutalized, Tarnoski said it’s time that residents open their eyes to what is happening in their own communities.
“You need your kids’ Facebook passwords. Monitor them online. Predators are lurking there,” Tarnoski said.
Tarnoski said part of her role with Women Against Child Trafficking is spreading the word by speaking to churches, organizations and clubs and educating residents on the best way to protect their children.
Tarnoski said, “Parents are so busy. Many of them working two jobs, but it’s time. We need get back to business, folks.”
Donations and volunteers are welcome. All proceeds benefit Operation Safe House.
To learn more click here or visit www.womenagainstchildtrafficking.org.
Kerri S. Mabee can be reached at kerri.mabee@swrnn.com. Follow me on Twitter @kerrimabee.
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Wow! I knew that this happened in the United States but I didnt really realize it was so close to home, very close! It is very hard to keep track of your kids facebook account. I have family and friends that keep an eye on my daughters facebook account for me and let me know of any suspicious activity. that way my daughter “feels” like she has some freedom by me not looking at her account, when in fact she is being watched by my family and friends. I know alot of people would say I should be monitoring her or dont let her on her facebook, but honestly, a 16 year old very fiesty young girl can find a way to get a facebook account without me knowing. So for me its beter this way.
Please take a moment to call Governor Brown today to ask for SARA KRUZAN (a child victim in Riverside in the 90s) release from prison in California today……more info Good news – our calls are working!! The California Supreme Court is reviewing Sara Kruzan ‘s case and we need EVERYONE TO CALL TODAY PLEASE! 2 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME – THIS WEDNESDAY –
HELP A CHILD VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PLEASE…..Call (916) 445-2841 – HIT 1, WAIT, THEN HIT 6 to get directly to the Governor’s office.
Sara Kruzan, a human trafficking victim who has been in prison for the last 17 years after she was coerced by 2 of her pimps competitors to kill the man who raped her at age 11 and forced her into prostitution at age 13. The video above is brief and will help you understand her case. Additional information is to the right and below on this webpage.
At 16 years old Sara was tried as an adult, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The California Supreme Court is reviewing Sara Kruzan’s case this month and all of us need to (nicely) ask Governor Jerry Brown to immediately, and without condition release this child sex trafficking victim that has a job and family waiting for her.
Sara needs YOUR HELP THIS WEDNESDAY!!
Please call Governor Brown and ask him to grant Sara time served.
Here’s what to do:
1) Call Governor Brown (916) 445-2841.
2) Express your support for granting of clemency to Sara Kruzan. Feel free to personalize your message and share your own story if you have one — the more personal, the better.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A SHORT VIDEO FROM SARA PLEASE GO TO:
http://stopslavery2012.com/sarakruzanwednesday.html
Sara Kruzan Wednesday
stopslavery2012.com
Sara Kruzan in prison child sex trafficking victim