First Ever Walk for Freedom in Lexington Set for Oct. 20

Goal is to Raise Awareness About Human Trafficking

By Sarah Yohe

For the first time in Lexington, A-21, an international organization devoted to combating human trafficking, will host a Walk for Freedom, scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Courthouse Plaza in downtown Lexington.

Worldwide, this is the fifth walk hosted by A-21. The Lexington walk is free but donations are welcome.

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, generating $150 billion every year, according to the A-21 website. In 2016, an estimated three million people were modern-day slaves. One in four of these are children.

The Walk for Freedom is designed to bring awareness to the men, women and children taken every day.

Walk participants dress in all black, walk in single-file lines and carry handmade posters.

Ann Veinot took the initiative to host Lexington’s walk after hearing A-21 founder Christine Caine speak in Lexington about the cruel reality of human trafficking.

“She talked about girls being taken and I have a 13-year-old girl so I’m worried,” said Veinot, who participated last year in a walk in Dayton.

“Girls get pregnant and their babies become slaves. This broke my heart and spoke to me.”

Ked Frank, Founder and President of Central Kentucky’s Refuge for Women, will speak at Lexington’s walk on behalf of A-21’s mission – for every human being to be free. In Kentucky alone since 2007, there have been 373 documented trafficking case and 869 victims.

Since its founding, A-21 has opened 14 offices around the world and garnered support in 71 countries.

Info: walkforfreedomlex@yahoo.com or www.a21.org/lexington