Help Take California Proposition 35 On The Road In 2014

The first trafficker to face a life sentence under Prop 35 was convicted in San Bernardino in September. Known for tasing his victims, Christopher Knox fell to the floor and cried when his verdict was read. Let's say he wasn't so tough anymore. 

Prop 35's full potential is still ahead. About 90,000 law enforcement officers still need to be trained by July 2014, as mandated by Prop 35. DONATE to take Prop 35 on the road in 2014. Your year-end donation of $25 or any amount will help change the game for many more traffickers. Give at www.CASRE.org/donate

A Message from California Against Slavery

Let's be clear: Predators with a history of disregarding the rights and dignity of other human beings have forfeited certain privileges, including complete anonymity online and offline. See ya in court!

What's Next Now that Prop 35 Has Passed?

Alexandra Datig appeared on Arizona Politics & Culture with Host Seth Leibsohn

Alexandra Datig appeared on Arizona Politics & Culture with host Seth Leibsohn.  Topics were:  California Proposition 35, Colorado Amendment 64, Washington State Initiative 502.

November 11th Show Link

Arizona Politics & Culture

Related News:  ACLU puts Prop. 35 on Hold

I Voted YES on CA Proposition 35

Gary & Melinda's Daughter is a Testament for Prop. 35

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Proud to be Part of Prop. 35 Walk for Justice - San Diego

Me with amazing proponent of Prop. 35, Daphne Phung at the San Diego "Walk for Justice"

STOP THE SILENCING OF VICTIMS, YES ON 35

Real Justice is Near. YES ON 35

Leah's Story: YES on 35

Los Angeles City Council Endorses Prop. 35 with a Unanimous Vote

Press Release

For Immediate Release

August 17, 2012

Contact: Sarah Hersh, Yes on Prop 35 Campaign, 510-550-8170 (o)/ 510-759-2921 (c)

Contact: Eva Kandarpa Behrend, Councilwoman Perry, 213-473-2308 (o)/ (213) 359-3084 (c)

Los Angeles City Council Votes Unanimously to Support Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in California

Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously today to support Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in California. Slated for the November 2012 ballot, Proposition 35 is an initiative that will fight against human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and children in the state. Today’s action by the City Council carries special significance given that Los Angeles is one of three cities in the state recognized by the FBI as high intensity child sex trafficking areas.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry led the motion to support Proposition 35, saying: “By supporting Prop 35, Los Angeles is fighting back against human trafficking of vulnerable women and children that is happening in our community. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is a center for child sex trafficking, but we can fight back against these terrible crimes by passing Prop 35 and putting in place tougher penalties for human traffickers. We urge all voters in Los Angeles and throughout the state of California to join us in supporting Prop 35.”

Chris Kelly, Founder of the Safer California Foundation, said: “As the governing body of California’s largest city, today’s vote of support from the Los Angeles City Council is significant.

 Californians have the chance to take a stand against these crimes with Proposition 35, and Los Angeles is helping to lead the way in that fight. Together, we can fight back against human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children in our state.”

The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles. Founded in 1850, it consists of fifteen elected members and serves the needs of nearly four million Los Angeles

residents. At today’s City Council Meeting, Councilwoman Jan Perry authored the resolution to support Prop 35 and Councilmember Tom LaBonge seconded the motion.

About Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in California:

In California, many vulnerable women and young girls are held against their will and forced to sell their bodies. The victims are often girls as young as 12 who are sexually exploited for the financial gain of human traffickers. They are afraid for their lives and abused – sexually, physically, and mentally.

Human trafficking is said to be one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world – and it is taking place right here in our own backyard. Three cities in California – San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego – are recognized by the FBI as high intensity child sex trafficking areas. In addition, a recent national study by a victims' rights group gave California an "F" grade for its weak laws dealing with child sex trafficking.

Proposition 35, a partnership of California Against Slavery and the Safer California Foundation, will protect children in California by:

 Increasing prison terms for human traffickers.

 Requiring convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders.

 Requiring all registered sex offenders to disclose their internet accounts.

 Requiring criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for services to help victims.

Proposition 35 has also been endorsed by organizations representing over 90,000 rank and file California Peace Officers, advocates for the protection of children, including Marc Klaas and the KlaasKids Foundation, and victims who survived sexual exploitation when they were children. Prop 35 has strong bipartisan support and is endorsed by both major political parties in California.

For comprehensive information on Proposition 35, visit www.VoteYesOn35.com.

YES on 35

TMZ: The Word "Pimp" is Not Cool! It Hurts Sex Trafficking Victims!

I have a lot of news mediums on my morning reading list and TMZ is always one of them.   TMZ gets a lot of things right and they always have me coming back for more.  But as of late, I am rather disturbed by a couple of things TMZ did. 

A radio interview published by TMZ had Ryan Lochte being interviewed by with Ryan Seacrest, who asked him some very embarrassing questions.  But Lochte, like the true Olympian he is, answered them as if they were no big deal.  The question?  Did he urinate in the Olympic pool, to which Lochte answered “yes, all the time.”  The interview made news on several more news websites and surely raised a few eyebrows. 

This morning, while going over the news, I saw another story about Lochte and this time it was about razors.  What really bothers me is the headline, which reads “Ryan Lochte, Pimped Out & Razor Sharp.”  Pimped out?  Is that really a word we need to teach young people?  Now TMZ is going from the guy who peed in the pool to “pimped out”?  

Let’s get one thing straight.  A pimp is a despicable monster who lives off of young women, young men and children by selling their bodies for sex.  He or she then enriches himself or herself with money from sex slave labor.  Using the word “pimp” to make Lochte "look cool" at the expense of others is not only disgusting, but a complete misuse of language.  Words like "pimped out" are designed to wrongly desensitize people away from the horrific tragedies victims of human trafficking are coerced to endure.

We should always remember that human trafficking is a serious crime and to joke about it in a dismissive, ignorant way adds insult to injury to those who are victimized by pimps.

California is on it’s way to change the law for victims of human and sex trafficking.  The CASE Act, also referred to as Proposition 35 is going to bring monumental change for sex and human trafficking victims.  It will also help bring tools in the from of training to law enforcement, so officers may better  recognize the need for treatment of victims who have been trafficked.  Vote YES and Prop. 35 and STOP using words that hurt victims!!!

YES on California Proposition 35

Willow Smith: Another Reason to Vote YES on CA Proposition 35

 
 For more visit: www.caseact.org

MANIPULATED: Child Sex Trafficking in Los Angeles County

Support The CASE Act, the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act

Just last week, a very important ballot initiative called the CASE Act, qualified for the November 2012 ballot.  The CASE Act stands for Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act.  This law, if it were to pass, would protect young girls and boys from being forced into human slavery and sexual exploitation, creating harsh penalties for the evildoers who take advantage of children. 

When I was 16 years old, I was approached by a man who wanted to exploit me, who propositioned me to sleep with men for money.  I told him I was not about to do this kind of thing and even though I dodged a bullet for a little while, the fact that I was even propositioned was horrifying to me.  I was already an alcoholic teen and substance abuser at that time and I remember that night I went home, I looked in the mirror and felt a hopelessness and dark feeling come over me.  I remember saying to myself “is this really what it’s come to?  If someone thinks I should be a prostitute, I must look like and be a terrible person.”     


That day took away so much from me.  It was as if someone had stolen away my dignity.  From that day on, my self-esteem became lower and lower and the thought that someone believed I should be a teen prostitute, stayed on my mind and I never told anyone until I went into treatment years later.  What this indecent proposal did to my inner dialogue was horrific.  I used drugs over it, which lead me to further behavior that was to my near self-destruction.  Because I never told anyone as a teen and lacked counseling, my secret grew in the dark.  In my early 20’s I was again propositioned several times and by the time drugs and lack of good opportunity became the ill-conceived, self-rationalizing factor, I decided not to ask for help and give in to the pimps for a short while.  


At the age of 22, I took drastic measures to put a stop to the people who tried to sexually exploit me by assisting to turn them in to the authorities.  The CASE Act would help create preventative efforts to help law enforcement be trained to handle the sensitive issues that keep children in fear of their procurers and would get them into counseling early on.   Sexual exploitation of children is a psychological and sometimes violet game that will haunt a child into adulthood and can make it impossible for a victim to have a normal relationship with a partner, if left untreated.  It involves drug addiction, humiliation, degradation and the refusing of all rights a child has to a happy, healthy and natural childhood.  Please join with me and support this very important initiative to help stop child sexual exploitation, The CASE Act.

For more, please visit:  www.caseact.org