Walking the Walk and Talking about LB255

Attribution: Wikiphoto

"It's a great day in the State of Nebraska."  Such was the laconic greeting of one of my college professors.  Today, this most certainly is the case.  

Earlier today, as Nebraska legislators met to close the 2013 session, one item on the agenda was LB255.  This bill, championed by Senator Amanda McGill, was a huge step forward in how Nebraska fights human trafficking.  LB255 strengthens penalties for those that would prey upon minors for sexual acts.  The legislation also helps to protect young girls and boys that are forced or coerced into prostitution.  Under this law, those minors are treated like victims deserving of treatment rather than as criminals.  

I'm happy to report that among the legislative business accomplished today by Nebraska's senators, they unanimously passed LB255 and Governor Heineman has signed it into law.  Nebraska is now among the leading edge of states and municipalities acting to thwart human trafficking.  

So, what do we do now?  If you've read this blog or are familiar with Acts in Motion's legacy, you know that we here talk a lot about social justice.  But talking is one thing, walking the walk is quite another.  

This coming Saturday, June 8th, is the No Girl Should Be For Sale Walk.  Its a walk event sponsored by non-profit anti-trafficking organization, I've Got A Name.  The event will be raising awareness and funds to make a stand for exploited youth in Lincoln.  Watch I've Got A Name's promotional video:  

The video is a lot of fun.  And I've Got A Name founder, Bob Burton, certainly used his connections among Cornhusker Athletics to grab the state's biggest celebrities.  The No Girl Should Be For Sale Walk will hopefully be a big hit.  I hope I've Got A Name can use it to springboard their work and protect even more at-risk girls, but is it enough for us to strap on a set of heels and "walk a mile in her shoes"?  

This great post by Samantha Escobar does a far better job than I can explaining where a "walk a mile in her shoes" event falls short.  The gist is that guys walking around in heels is a pretty silly way to address an issue like sexual violence and prostitution of minors, and yet it is doing something.  If this is an entry point for some people, if they feel they can at least engage this issue at a mile long walk where men wear high heels, than that is a starting point.  But we have to realize that it takes a lot more action to stop an issue as complex and wide ranging as human trafficking.  

The passing of LB255 is one of those actions.  The work that I've Got A Name is doing in conjuction with The Bay is another.  A friend of mine is using this walk event as a first step in a journey that will bring her into the thick of the trafficking battle.  She's putting together a team that will go to sponsoring a solo bike trip along the Oregon Trail, in which she will talk to groups and churches that will have her over about the problem of sexual slavery.  That trip will continue to raise awareness and funds that will eventually be used to send her to Nepal to work with trafficking victims there.  Now, that's crazy and awesome!  I hope that we can all be so brave in taking action against trafficking.  

We, Nebraskans, have made a lot of great strides to support this battle.  This No Girl Should Be For Sale Walk is a way to show our legislators they made the right decision.  It's a way that we can tell I've Got A Name we support their efforts.  We can encourage my friend and others by registering under their teams and at least walking with them this far.  (If you're interested I highly recommend registering under Team Abby).  But don't let this one-mile walk be the end of your journey.  I hope to see you at the No Girl Should Be For Sale Walk on June 8th and after that on the front lines of efforts to end slavery and trafficking in our generation.