Sold in America: The Trafficking

Thousands of people in the U.S. are trafficked for sex each year. Newsy talks to survivors and explores new efforts to stop exploitation.
Learn more about this story at www.newsy.com/76707/
Find more videos like this at www.newsy.com
Follow Newsy on Facebook: newsyvideos
Follow Newsy on Twitter: newsyvideos

[@martinbryan137]

Omg the last lady... "we're not bad people, we just got in a bad situation". TEARS.

[@SisterKnight]

But the idea that society creates keeps the real victims free to be victimized. We see drug attacks prostitutes and bad kids and say oh they are the throwaways of society who cares. When really that's the powers that be making it easier for the lucky ones to feel no pity and allow all these vulnerable women (mostly of color) continue to be the donkeys of the depraved, to ride on...

[@maroonhorizon1693]

MrsRivera what?

[@Tezmogal]

Its true

[@tessvan1072]

But so on point

[@kalilahw4040]

Martin Bryan SAMEEE😭😭that reallllyy hit me...

[@hollywarehouse7938]

No one listened to me in my little county in Florida after I adopted a young girl who was IV DRUGGED and SOLD by her parents for money or DRUGS. I also adopted her little sister.... It’s been well over 5 years and neither parent was charged with human trafficking. They DID THIS TO HER, FOR 2 years until the FBI got involved-they were both able too plea out to a lesser offense. THERES NO STRICT LAWS IN FLORIDA! Sadly she ran away and moved in with the owner of her drug treatment facility and refused to talk to us afterwards. He’s my age, (50) and I never received an explanation, after trying too help her for over 5 years... I still have her younger sister and thank God for her! I was just a single mom, trying too help, her terrible situation but now she’s 19, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get an explanation.... I put 2 of her rapists in jail, for over 10 years. And tried to get the law changed in Florida..,, All of this has left me in therapy 2xs a week, and her little sister as well, both of us battling anxiety and depression. THIS SHIT IS REAL! In your neighborhood and every high school in America....

[@joannacarelock2729]

Bless your heart

[@stacyyoust]

I'm sorry I have a bit in common with you... I have a group called ETHICAL FOSTER CARE. If you'd be willing to share your perspective. Please let me know...

[@shontagarner8663]

Wow! God bless you.

[@getmoney182]

Sometimes no one ever believes us. To them being treated the way your daughters and I have been treated only happens in movies. To this day no one in my small town or what I am told I should call Family (because we share a blood line), will listen to my journey without mocking me. Therefore I became the problem and never the victim to all. I praise you for being Love, Support, Protection, Guidance, and Strength for those Amazingly Beautiful Angels.

[@AlexandraBernabela]

Brave woman thank you

[@BenzPunaniNani]

I love how she told her you DONT have to talk about it

[@TheCreativeAutistic37]

what people dont realize is its the fact not only are their female children who are victims but there is also male children whom are also victims. males are just as important!

[@spharklinq2081]

Teardropangel30 yes, but it’s mostly young girlz

[@mischa8623]

That is so true.. Most people don't realize that a lot of these pedophile predators don't care about the gender..

[@elianag1314]

Teardropangel30 OF COURSE! I am a girl and I think that if we want to hav gender equality, this is a great starting point. Don’t you think?

[@bigg1566]

@GodLoveFreedom not true one out of 4 boys is sexually abused. I work with children

[@squarebear619]

@@bigg1566 And girls suffer 3 out of 4. That is statistically TRUE, girls suffer more than boys.

[@andrepardue7746]

Newsy is so underrated. This is a male talking by the way and this piece struck me as extremely depressing. Due to the fact that this exists and that I had no idea. I consider myself very well informed, but I found myself dumbfounded and ignorant when discovering this huge issue. Thank you Newsy for opening eyes to this issue. I really hope more people listen to your insightful news videos and series.

[@sossoft]

André Pardue I hope if you find it depressing you do not indulge in pornography which encourage this sex trafficking industry.

[@malia5365]

Ms.Milkies you fucken idiot

[@cc5206]

Ms.Milkie supposedly prostitution is also "2 adults consenting." They are cut from the same cloth. Stay away from Pornography and prostitution to make a stand against the exploitation of people everywhere.

[@cc5206]

Ms.Milkies "Pornography is the industrialization of sex. Adult pornography is a legal industry. In the U.S. pornography is a $13 billion dollar industry. Pornography is the industrialization of sex. Adult pornography is a legal industry. In the U.S. pornography is a $13 billion dollar industry. Worldwide is about a $97 billion dollar industry. Pornography is marketing for sex trafficking of women and children. Pimps use pornography, especially online, to sell trafficking victims to Johns. Let me pause here to say that “trafficking” is dare-I-say ‘sexy’ shorthand for commercial sexual exploitation. As the full phrase spells out, commercial sexual exploitation means that someone is being forced, coerced or manipulated (exploited) to give sex for money, or something else of value is about a $97 billion dollar industry. Pornography is marketing for sex trafficking of women and children. Pimps use pornography, especially online, to sell trafficking victims to Johns. Let me pause here to say that “trafficking” is dare-I-say ‘sexy’ shorthand for commercial sexual exploitation. As the full phrase spells out, commercial sexual exploitation means that someone is being forced, coerced or manipulated (exploited) to give sex for money, or something else of value (www.d2l.org/the-relationship-between-pornography-trafficking-and-the-sexual-abuse-of-children/) "This is the reality of what the porn industry fuels: real people being sexually abused and exploited at the hands of family members, traffickers and pimps. Each click to porn content directly fuels the demand for sex traffickers to make money by selling videos of their sex slaves to porn sites. But what about major porn studios and porn sites-aren’t they completely separate from the sex trafficking issue? Absolutely not. After all, when someone is sex trafficked, there are undoubtedly videos and images taken of them to advertise them online, if nothing else. But sometimes, these images and videos end up on popular sites. The more the mainstream adult entertainment industry flourishes, the bigger the opposing globalized black market for porn will become. So the higher the demand for porn, even porn that was produced in professional studios (which, newsflash, also abuse their performers), the more sex traffickers will want to profit from that lucrative porn demand, and the more they’ll exploit vulnerable people to get there. After all, as we’ve seen from the numbers, it’s big business to do so (www.google.com/amp/s/fightthenewdrug.org/by-the-numbers-porn-sex-trafficking-connected/amp/)" Just because you do it and like it doesn't mean that pornography and trafficking aren't related. I did do research and will continue to as long as human exploitation is around.

[@cc5206]

Ms.Milkies Also please note that some prostitutes as those in Las Vegas where it is legal' "with Certified Businesses, giving consent to show themselves, knowing who they are working for and with" sooooo.... it sounds the same to me 🤷🏾‍♀️ but whatever the case.... it doesn't help human trafficking and the exploitation of individuals at all.

[@jennymanhattan9425]

The lady that's doing this documentary is very pretty.

[@mikita6946]

Äva has availability wtf thats disgusting

[@desiree896]

Mikita Honestly I would love to would I ever act on it no

[@faizullahkhwaja7567]

hello jenny

[@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736]

No she ain’t. Y’all just saying that because she a stank ass hijab on. The black girl is the REAL beauty.

[@sachyktothea]

@@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736 Thank you. She may be pretty but u can't see her under that symbol of Muslim oppression. Women in the middle East fight and protest with the risk of getting prosecuted, having acid thrown on them or even worse raped due to primal Muslim men having no control over their actions when they see a woman without a hijab. Lol... While in America women wear it to make some sort of statement or to come across as "unique" or edgy. Smh. It does nothing. These new generation western Muslims don't understand why it exists... The reason it exists is to stop men sexualizing them. Where in America and the west we are taught that what a woman wears shouldn't determine if they were raped or how they are sexualized by men. Ur not in the middle East anymore darling. If u want to wear that symbol of oppression why don't u go take a visit to ur home country and see how oppressed fellow women are. I bet once she sees that she wont be wearing that dumbjab headscarf.

[@anavaldez2432]

Wow! The interview with the young girl talking about Forster care system was deep!

[@MercyS26]

I just want to give all these foster kids a really big and tight hug, to have never experienced real love and to have only known violence, abuse, and abandonment, I just want to tell them that there are people who care, that they do matter and that they are loved. Watching this makes me want to reach out to a traumatized teen and tell them "it will be ok, you are not alone in this" smh, these foster kids deserve so much more. I get that people want their own biological kid but damn there are thousands of kids, especially older kids, who would benefit so much from just experiencing a loving home. If you're looking to adopt, please consider adopting an older child. Sometimes those are the ones who need the most love and guidance.

[@jelicianorwood24]

Yeah I am thinking about doing that once I get financially stable.

[@tubeyou2061]

So how many kids have you adopted and how many foster children have you taken in?

[@kristenpilon6934]

Same this is getting me very emotional. So sad. I would love to become a foster parent. I don’t want kids of my own but I feel like it’s such a good cause to help someone during a tough period and show them there’s more to life than they’ve experienced

[@stargazer2042]

"traffickers recruit from detox centers." Wow. This is war.

[@sunnyoverthemountain5029]

Star Gazer my friend was lured into a sex trafficking ring while she was in a sober house .. she had a heroine problem .. they dumped her body on a lot ..

[@fahkinlosah8469]

This has been going on since at least 1998....probably even longer....keep in mind the NSA tracks every phone call, text and so forth of the population so if they wanted to go after this industry they could....they have a search engine for spying on us, and yet 2 million kids still go missing every year...

[@lovenurtures3724]

Wow... A Muslim Female reporter doing a story on this particular issue is just so inspirational...

[@MercyS26]

It just breaks my heart to see the foster system fail these kids time and time again. And then we wonder why there's so much sadness and hurt in the world. I don't understand how people can treat other human beings like they're nothing but property. I don't understand how an individual would adopt a child just to sell them for sex. It's just disgusting and these people should be stripped of their human label. You are not a human, you are just an animal.

[@NotPracticingLawdotinfo]

These "things" are doing abominations that even animals would NOT do. So that places them way below the animal species. Even if it walks, or talks, or looks like a human, it has to have moral, human traits to be classified actual "humans." And that comment was from 60 Years of "studying" what it takes to be "real" human by definition of a moral, living being! It has to do with... do unto others as you want to be done to. That is "logical" scientific law of like attacks like, and what goes out will come back. And I hope that "law" works, ASAP!

[@jelicianorwood24]

This opened my eyes.

[@Luminescent135]

Animals don’t treat each other like this. Animals In a lot of ways are better than humans. The word your looking for people who do these awful things Are monsters

[@lolapatton5444]

Mk S. Less than a damn animal

[@ARedMagicMarker]

This is exactly why I'm not having children. I refuse to bring anyone else into this mess.

[@davynajames7023]

This journalist is beautiful and so intelligent and unbiased and compassionate to every person she comes across

[@kittykatBflat]

Finally a competent unbiased journalist. Great reporting👍

[@valentineaugust4221]

What you’re doing is so important and so appreciated. You’re helping so many people just by getting the information and allowing victims a platform to talk about their experiences

[@rajasvlogs2061]

Relax, her iman is very strong.

[@BarbieQueen1990]

when I heard the age of the youngest victim of a 2 year old I picked up my 2 year old and hugged her very tight

[@Buttergirla]

I just grabbed my baby out the crib too!! Its our way of showing love to those unloved babies!

[@ilovekevingates6969]

dil oreo throw the gun away

[@vickyandersen8660]

It's also best not to put your child's picture online

[@brianrobertson3545]

as a paramedic I've been trained and encountered several boys, girls, and adults who had the signs of trafficking.. I've called the number to the authorities that I'm supposed to call and the person on the other send sounded like I was bothering them more than anything. It really is disgusting how this isn't fought harder and taken much more seriously.

[@wonton_soup805]

Can you imagine trading your Own Child for Drugs? Creating kids with addictions from 2-17 years old?! Crazy. Those parents need serious help.

[@kenzieoakley]

noor, the lady doing this series, is absolutely gorgeous and amazing at her job

[@rajasvlogs2061]

Of course she is amazing because she is a strong iman and ALLAH will grant her to paradise.

[@matiasbeccaglia8786]

@@rajasvlogs2061 hahahahaha

[@TNGURL08]

My heart is broken watching this....I can't believe this happens to these precious children.

[@aliheartzuphrakonkham3005]

excellent professionalism, awesome research, keep doing what you're doing. more people need to know

[@beachesandcream27]

Angela is doing such important and meaningful work. She should be so proud

[@mermaidzoephiahart]

My biological mother and her sisters were traded to people for drugs and alcohol and also raped and abused by their biological father and beaten by their alcoholic mother so i feel really bad for these people I pray things get better for them soon

[@cmebans35]

🙏

[@christineclarevilgos-mitch1955]

What that one girl said really hit hard. How can someone be a foster parent without having at least a little love for the children they care for? I couldn't do that. I feel like human instinct and nature would not allow you to care for a creature without love and without loving them at least a little.

[@sara_s_]

Excellent journalism, thank you.

[@ocdguy84]

I gotta say that this documentary has changed my perspective very dramatically! and has open my eyes to a lot things I was ignorant about.

[@giltorres1849]

Wow! How terrifying! There are some sick humans in this world to be able to do that to a kid you’re fostering 😭

[@oslatron]

Noor is so pretty and smart

[@abhishekupadhyay9726]

18:31 seeing that lady crying about the situations that she’s experienced shattered me into pieces 😢 😢

[@diorisdope2830]

The women at the safe house was a beautiful person!

[@ms.toniphillips6927]

My GOD PLEASE HELP CHILDREN IN EVERY WAY BLESS THEM TO HELP SEEK YOU AND HELP TO FIND THE RIGHT WAY AND WANT THE RIGHT WAY....IN JESUS NAME I PRAY AMEN.

[@cmebans35]

In the name of Jesus Amen

[@heavenly1539]

And sometimes its not even drugs, Alot of these women and men that have kids have severe mental issues that ruin the children lives.. I know this first have.

[@sukilove5140]

sheran green you sound so brave. I hope you’re ok.

[@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736]

Thank you!!!! 💕

[@FreePalestine4800]

This woman is super genuine! Love journalist’s like this, today’s media is in ever need of your kind!

[@whatsgood6440]

I swear to G-D if I see a little girl on any corner consistently I’m asking her what’s going on. We need to take accountability especially if you see this shit broad day light

[@NosiLLa258]

As somebody who has had a heroin habit, the things some addicts do to get their high is beyond disgusting!! There were many times I was faced with the choice of being sick or doing something against my morals and I chose to stay true to myself. Even though being sick is awful I would rather be sick than hurt those around me. I am so tired of addicts using drugs as their excuse for hurting those around them. Trading time with your young child to a pedophile so that you can get well is a concept that makes me physically ill! I don't have words for how vile and depressing that is. My heart aches for the children that are victims of these selfish parents. I am 31 and am just getting to the point where I feel I might be ready to support another life, although the thought of having a child still scares part of me. I wish the world took parenting more seriously so there weren't as many lost children growing to be lost adults!

[@Miss-ru5tb]

Allie Bengochea yeah that's justed fuckd people. Drugs may give them more balls to do terrible things. But even if they weren't on drugs there Morales r not there. But sadly alot of the times they may have went thru things there self or mentally messed up or just evil brained . Not all people have a good head on there shoulders. But yes I've seen people on drugs that use that excuse for being no good parents. Reality is they just selfish No good beings but drugs can enhance that

[@Xydorf]

Miss Jones This is exactly right... They are selfish and the drugs just amplifiy it...

[@ameliamorice300]

girl, you are an amazing journalist. you’re so kind, compassionate and i really respect how you tell the people you’re talking to that they don’t have to talk if it hurts. i can tell you really want to raise awareness instead of just pushing people past their limits for a good story

[@gne791]

Educating the young people especially girls about the dangers of sex trafficking is very important.

[@tinambok8808]

Ekah Bale I agree this will just continue if girls don’t get taught to handle how to prevent or try stop it and boys that this is WRONG in many different ways

[@shelbyhuseman1220]

The young woman that was in the foster care system, broke my heart she’s so strong but when she would talk about trauma she experienced you can just feel her post traumatic stress while she’s talking I feel for her 💔

[@cmebans35]

Foster children have unbelievable trauma

[@irisbd3300]

There is so much evil in this world, it makes me sad😔 watching these videos had really opened my eyes

[@soukab774]

I hope more people will keep their eyes open

[@natalieschultz6749]

Love this journalist she does an awesome job I hope they know how much of an impact she makes with how she presents these stories and conducts her interviews.

[@elizabeth1703]

6:35 nail on the head. Right there. These kids aren't taught they're valuable; they're vulnerable and its terrifying.

[@sambel9660]

Wow, this needs more views!!

[@kimjaxson8671]

Share. Share share!!

[@kallyb1998]

Little over a year ago I was caught in Santa Barbara by a sting op, and I'm so thankful for it. I was manipulated by (I hope no one takes offense) my first black boyfriend who made me believe making him happy and satisfied was more important than family or school, I dropped out 3 months before graduating, I was a top grade student. When money became stressed and we were being kick out of his mother's house, he told me I need to sell myself in order to feed and support ourselves. Being manipulated into believing if I did this I would be loved and cared by him. My first time doing the act was the day before I turned 18, all the way to October 23, 2017. Always used protection and only ever laid on my back, I wasn't allowed to be in any other position, I would tell clients I had bad knees so I couldnt be put in doggie or cowgirl. He would beat me when money became low, threaten to leave me stranded in a city I had no friends or family close by to pick me up and saved me, I felt all alone and only depended on him to be able to get hotel rooms because at the time I had no birth certificate or social to acquire an I.D. I never did brown or cocaine, he and I only smoked weed, but it was a daily thing, so I needed to make money every day to support his habit of nice hotel rooms, expensive weed and backwoods, nice cloths, over $500 jordans, food, etc.Starting out I was a healthy 134 lb I'm 5"4', a very nice hour glass figure for a young white girl, but after I was saved I was 87lb. I hardly ate b/c I didnt want to throw up from the motion of the sexual acts, so I would hardly ever eat. The last time he had beaten me he hit me so many times in my legs, avoiding my face b/c that's what made money. He would even kick me, held me up by just my hair 3 feet off the ground, and chocked me out threatening if I kept acting this way he would kill me, and gave me a fractured rib as I sat up to gasp for breath. I would tell clients I got into a car accident hence the terrible bruising, but I even knew it wasn't so convincing, no matter how I worded it, but it never swayed the clients. I went by Monica and I mainly worked in Santa Barbara where I was eventually caught. The detective believing I was underage, but I was 18 when they caught me. They never charged me with prostitution, no run in with the law, my name wasnt even in the system, they wanted my boyfriend; my pimp, and they got him. For awhile I was still in the false belief he loved me, but as the separation continued, I started really looking back at everytjing he did and said to me, truly feeling the pain I kept pushing away and stopped lying to myself that he did it out of love and care. He was nothing but a selfish and greedy young man with no ambitions of becoming a hard working man, enforcing the bad stereotype of young black men, which yes has changed my view on young black men. I know not all are bad, but I never want to give it a chance again. I escaped with my life, though I suffer from muscle damage in my thighs to this day, he will soon be released, and I dont give a fuck, call me a snitch, but stay the fuck away from Mikah D'Shawn Reese. Having his 2 front teeth knocked out in jail isnt enough of a concequence to me for what he did and took from me. I also accept that in a small way it was also my fault, I should have been smart enough to stay away and stay focused on school. But its not too late for me or any other survivor. It took me over a year to love myself again, built a steel backbone and self courage to say no to anyone. I have recently gotten into a relationship I'm very happy for, oldest son of my loving roommate who was an officer for 15 years, and trained in the academy by my great uncle, so my family last name is well known to her, and if her son were to do any harm to me his mother will not have it. I'm proud to say I don't feel ashamed, nor do I feel pride for what I did, I'm proud I adapted, overcame and survived the experience, and I'm happy to share my story to let others know, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! And if you have that chance to leave DO IT, do not stay, you deserve so much more. My life was threatened by my pimp,clients, and running low on funds and fear of living on the streets. NO ONE deserves to feel the kind of fear I delt with, nor the manipulation I went through. Please stand up, share your story and do NOT feel you are less of a man/woman b/c you prostituted for your survival. Thank you for taking the time to read my experience.

[@INisa-st3pl]

May you be loved and protected by ALLAH.

[@AlexandraBernabela]

You is smart you is important you is loved.❤ brave girl.

[@ryfrz]

I wish u all the best. You are so strong ❤

[@FettiMagazine]

"My first black boyfriend" statement let's me know exactly what kind of woman you are. Be honest, he didn't exploit you- you were down with his plan the whole time. Pretending "to be black" and all that until the police come. Then all of a sudden you're an innocent white girl. Gtfoh with those lies

[@warsan3868]

iKnowYourSecret MemeFettish I sympathize with you and you didn’t deserve that. I’m glad you’re getting your life together. With that said, his race has nothing to do with what that asshole did to you and there was no point in mentioning his race.

[@tomorrowlandforyou3203]

As a editor for my schools paper, all the questions you asked are amazing, it digs extremely deep into many peoples story, especially the fact that these people are talking about something intimate, and personal.

[@mentallyhealthyusually3500]

This is some killer researched journalism. Incredible work, on such a painful subject.

[@edithhejberg6818]

“This is not a nightmare, this is your life” that one hurt

[@YasminYoruba]

She’s such an inspirational reporter. Mash’allah for her having such an open mind to these groups of people. I want to do this type of work in the future inshallah

[@laurenzaps7070]

Who is the amazing woman who digged deep on this show? I appreciate you journalistic style and commitment to exposing the truth

[@cynthialangley7338]

Thank you so much for this series. Please watch the whole series to understand the entire picture and the need for comprehensive solutions.

[@torilee5584]

It’s happening bc the big guys are the customers

[@jelicianorwood24]

We must learn self love and to grow. Don't let bad things that happened to you ruin you. Push forward. God is love. God gives us purpose. It took me so long to realize that. This opened my eyes.

[@cuchicuchi111]

Preach

[@ilsar4724]

Everything was right until you mentioned God

[@samanthabisbee2875]

It's ok to need love from people besides yourself. Self love is beautiful, but so is interdependence. Humans are social creatures.

[@octrea5387]

@@ilsar4724 no, everything's still right. doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not, he gives many people purpose in life.

[@ginarobles3129]

IMPERFECT WOMAN OF GOD amen

[@Hollywould94]

*hugs* these women who run these shelters are so beautiful ❤ never give up!

[@grossgorl]

the reporter id so good & gentle & understanding with the girls. i support her so so so much!! also these girls, everyone should hear these stories

[@DawnKellyMedia]

I'm obsessed with this show. You're an incredible journalist.

[@onlyhere4thecomments80]

The reporter is so compassionate and consoling to the victims.

[@rayriley4571]

I was in foster care but I never had a traumatic experience with my families.

[@afterthedrjay]

It's probably about 10% bad foster care, but that's more than enough. 90% are going to be decent folks.

[@laurenvilla1299]

Consider yourself very blessed.

[@neatznotso7424]

Watching this just makes me think that decriminalization of drugs is even more important. There needs to be another way to deal with drugs because this 'war' on drugs isn't working, it just creates far more issues then there would be if drugs were decriminilised and could be regulated.

[@babyjane222]

Congrats Noor!! This is so good!!

[@hodanali2969]

Aisha åå

[@dongysakura418]

I think her name is spelled Nour

[@myristicina.]

Dongy Sakura no it’s Noor

[@ashleeebaby9166]

I've noticed that human trafficking affects mostly black or minority women. I'm sure these traffickers are powerful celebrities or pollitical figures trying to make a quick buck. "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?" Isaiah 23:8

[@myristicina.]

Ashleee Baby no it’s actually whites

[@ashleeebaby9166]

I think so too since white women are more sexually desired and that would only make sense. Yet there are so many cases of black women trafficked so maybe the victims are getting more. By black and minority women I'm refering to blacks, asians, Indians and so forth.

[@NaturalKween17]

If you look into studies, it shows that black woman are trafficked more than white woman

[@dariovariodinx]

It's less about being hot and more about being vulnerable. In India my cousinsfriend who was considered unattractive was raped.

[@sapphire8644]

@ravenrose mia man that’s just sad, sad in a way that America can just get that low.

[@Athena124]

Heroin addiction does NOT make you sell your children to pedophiles. Don’t give anyone a free pass for doing something so horrible. I’ve been addicted and I would 100% of the time choose going through uncomfortable withdrawal than harm another person. There is no excuse for this. There are many addicts that would never do this!! So important to make that distinction.

[@honeymoon4130]

One of my dreams in life is to creat a safe house like that phenomenal woman has made. I commend her and have so much respect for her! She is a blessing and has a beautiful heart.

[@maura2665]

That one woman who openly spoke about how she messed up and was ignorant and didn’t recognize the signs of sex trafficking and is now putting so much effort in to trying to change the medical industry to help those victims was just amazing ✨

[@xoxomya8334]

im from lexington, ky and i always knew we had drug problems but i never knew it was this bad, it’s an eye opener and sad makes you more humble.

[@ninjAdollChumChum]

#FreeCyntoiaBrown wonder what is going to happen next. Hope she gets free soon. God bless there soul 💜

[@rebejess4846]

Wasn't that a really problematic case?

[@deleinahnicholson4478]

She gets out in August

[@Ancheladamichelada]

She got out yesterday

[@trint3089]

I grew up in foster care. I was in some ways used or trafficked at 15-17. And I’m a male.

[@stefanieschneider8884]

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. Just want to let you know that an overcomer. You're strong! I've been raped before, so my heart goes out to you. I will pray for you. God Bless.

[@lillybrown4228]

The docuntary lady is the best I have watched for so long. She lets them speak she doesn't judge she tells the story she is eloquent and patient I hope she is recognised for her work because she does do it so so well.

[@faithvoss9646]

Thank you for putting together this documentary! It's a hard topic to cover and discuss. These issues are so stigmatized in our culture and it's important to talk about the various levels / dynamics at play. I really appreciate you highlighting both sides of this story (i.e. Legal protection for sex workers and the harsh reality of human trafficking/ dependency of substance).

[@lportillo6226]

A lot of this is because of broken families, where there is no love, they should research how many of these kid and women come from broken families, i think if we keep the family strong many problems will be solved.

[@michellebushue9404]

Luis Portillo y

[@samanthabisbee2875]

I went through similar issues, but my parents didn't divorce until I was 20. Each situation is different and worthy of individual consideration.

[@Lyzi.B]

10:02 So true. I see it in my home town of Atlantic City NJ. Not only do the drug dealers wait outside the methadone clinics, but the pimps do too. It's just as sick as a casting agent for modeling waiting outside an eating disorder clinic. It's easy fishing for them. I'm in recovery for over 6 years. I saw the underbelly of this life, and is worse than any documentary could ever depict. I carry narcan with me every single day. Not for myself, seeing I'm clean. It's for the dozens of people I revive on the street. I'm on my third narcan kit this year.. That's a shame. It's a sad life that becomes normalized by the trauma you experience daily. You say things like, "I'll do this, but I'll never do that." Until you do it out of desperation. Then you change it to, "well okay, I did that but I'll never do that." So on and so forth until you're dead or worn out. Then it's on to the next one.

[@awg7068]

Lyzi Bee thank you for telling us how it really is.

[@flamingapplepie1]

It’s like that at some of the methadone clinics here too I’m on subs but my bfs in mmt. It reminds me of this 50yo guy ik who brings girls to his house gets them high under the impression of free drugs and then makes them have sex w him in return. The one girl wasn’t even 18 and was crying but he didn’t care. A lot of them ended up in a cycle w him. He has a whole walk-in closet just filled w girls clothes n stuff they left there it’s fuckin sick

[@honeymoon4130]

I also live in NJ and have carried Narcan with me for 4 years now. The opiate epidemic is so unreal here.

[@jennrosejohnson]

“People in the sex work industry”. Language that doesn’t label or add to the stigma. I love the language used in this. 🦋💗

[@laurenfadzai]

Anybody felt teary eyed the whole time watching this?

[@Bpllnplppp]

this is so sad :( no one should have to go through any of this I was in foster care but I am so glad I got into a good family. what sscary is I would of end up in situation like this if I hadn't been adopted. the system needs to be better. I love the interviewer lady so much she is so sweet and smart & compassionate. good video

[@thecassandraeffectvsperilo6754]

God bless that woman running the safehouse!!!

[@azayleablackwood8733]

This video alongside these comments have brought me to absolute tears. I’m glad that a lot of this is getting light in media - people are seeing how frequent this is happening. How close it’s happening to home. The fact that people who are famous are participating.. buying these children to exploit. My heart goes out to all of the victims and I hope that one day trafficking will no longer exist. If you happen to be reading this, please consider adoption as well.. giving these children in the system a loving, stable home is what they need. Stay safe & take care, all of you.

[@heatherswift9268]

In theory it would be helpful to allow doctors to inquire about possible abuse but in reality this will only strain the doctor patient relationship as patients will be reluctant to pursue medical care if they feel that they might be interrogated.

[@autumn2845]

I am from Northern Kentucky and the situation in Covington is even worse now than when this was filmed. Multiple young girls have been disappearing REGULARLY from our area without a trace for months now. We've seen reports of people selling flowers for "charity" in parking lots, but they're laced with chloroform and being taken as soon as they go to smell them. There are people posting PSAs and Warnings to others on social media of certain cars following young women on highways for miles, and attempting to run them off the roads. While heroin is an epidemic, we are failing to see that methamphetamine in kentucky is coming in at a close second, and catching up quickly. If you were to look on the Kentucky Arrest website, you'll see a Meth production, possession, or intent to sell nearly ever other or every few people. In a way, it makes me feel a bit more at ease knowing that my state is one of the worst because I grew up thinking this level of drug abuse was casual. Now knowing, I can leave to any other surrounding state and find solace in an equally small town with far less drugs is comforting.

[@goodiegoodygumdrops]

Autumn Smith GIRL I hope you're staying safe!

[@robertsugden3039]

It does happen in other countries, and sadly happens here too. These pimps groom their victims.

[@abioyeabsko1727]

Help them MOST HIGH; PLEASE; I Pray!!!

[@ashleyjason8839]

This is so incredibly well done. Nope the woman who facilitated this was such a beautiful woman from the inside out Bless her heart. I love that this issue was explored, it's very difficult to discuss this subject, but something has to change. This barely scratched the surface. Unfortunately, people who run this Country might be the most guilty parties especially when it comes to the youngest victims. I have so much more information, but unfortunately I'm afraid to mention it. May God Bless the victims of this horrific war on Dec Trafficking.

[@UIAL570]

This hit me too hard. So deeply emotional and absolutely heart breaking.

[@erikakane2711]

When I was in kindergarten a classmate of mine used to perform sexual acts on me during nap time. That shit fucked me up but I feel worse for the girl who subjected me to that. I know now that she was likely acting out her own nightly torture. Im sadly grateful for it. I know what to watch out for when I have children.

[@angelpitzer7361]

I am from Covington Ky and I have struggled with heroin for 10 years. I also have been a victim of trafficking and I struggle with it everyday still. But there are not places or options here if ur homeless and no ins or money. Ur basically forgotten.

[@jordynwilliams5053]

Omg the last women so beautiful inside out, she’s so pure and truly a angel on earth❤️so strong

[@melindap614]

Family bloggers also see dollar signs on their kids foreheads. That should maybe be looked at as trafficking too.

[@AmethystSnow]

I have a friend who is a lawyer for CPS. She's told me horror stories of 14 and 15 year old kids who commit suicide because they're raped and beaten so much and their foster parents are still allowed to have more kids.

[@mckinleyannenielson]

I’m sitting here in tears. I feel so small. I feel awful. What can I do to help? I don’t know if anyone in sex trafficking. But my heart can’t take this any more! I wish we could stop all sex trafficking.

[@NancyCronk]

Excellent journalism!

[@nicolledasilva9903]

This documentary is amazing. This needs to be seen by more people.

[@crueltyfreemakeupheaven6907]

Such important stories to share to raise awareness about the issues👏🏻

[@erica5513]

"You'll be an investigative journalist and get to travel for work!" "Wow, that sounds so cool and interesting! Where am I going?!" "Covington."

[@jsmyth024]

What is this young reporters name? I am so impressed. Inspirational.

[@miarose9707]

Noor

[@Kim-ou7lc]

jsmyth024 you are looking but not reading or listening

[@AfrianiSinaga]

Seeing this video breaks my heart. That is why every time I saw someone just sat by her/himself looking so sad, I came to ask her/him if they need a help. I might put myself in danger because I don't know them but showing that someone else cares about him/her will give them a fresh air. We are not alone. We are one big family and family should not judge to each other.

[@sonyabowles2149]

My nieces and nephew were raised in the foster care system in California. My nephew and youngest niece are damaged by it. My middle niece got lucky. She was placed with a black women temporarily while the state looked for a white family. Was only supposed to be a week. She was 7. By the end of the first week, when they came to get her, her momma Margery told them no. That she wouldn't let them move her from home to home. She kept her until she was in high school. She asked her if she wanted her to adopt her or if she wanted to get to know her real mother. She chose to go to her mother. And she cried while I held her for that. But her momma Margery, who loved her and raised her, will always be her mom, regardless of a piece of paper. She has NOTHING to do with her biological, outside of her little sisters. My nephew was sexually, physically and emotionally abused in foster care. Moved like 30 plus times in 4 years. He tried to commit suicide at 5 years old. My youngest niece, was medicated to the point of drooling in Jr high. She has struggled with drugs and still has issues with being touched. She was abused in foster care as well. My POS brother and ex sister in law, left them in the foster care system until they were older. Actually it was my parents who got them out. Not their parents. Then they were less than loving supportive parents once they did get them out. My nephew is the only one who has anything to do with their dad. My brother let his wife and step daughter (who is my niece as well, blood or not) bully my niece. Because they were jealous of her. My step niece was young. And has turned out to be a good kid. My sister in law on the other hand, has no excuse. My brother has no excuse. The stories I have heard, from other survivors as well, are disgusting and sickening. The state often remove children from less than ideal situations, and put them somewhere far worse. So many foster kids would have been better off in the homes they were removed from. The lady who helped me get my knee surgery done, because I didn't have insurance. Told me she was a social worker for many years. 20 I think it was. She quit. Because she said she wanted to go to Heaven someday. And what they did to children and their families was evil. Biggest problem with the foster care system is that they get paid for every child they remove. The state makes money for removing adoptable children. Which are children under 5. They get paid for adopting them out. Everyone gets paid. They don't thoroughly investigate perspective foster parents. I had a friend in high school in a group home where the foster dad was in prison and the foster mom fed them food with weevils. .. As with any other state or federal system in America, it's all about the money. The foster care system is just one of many that is full of corruption.

[@ellielopez1615]

If parents were just good parents, there wouldn’t be any criminals.

[@TheKazadoodle]

Joanna Dennehy, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Dennis Rader - they all had good parents and yet ...

[@knowlightknowright]

I love her voice.

[@ELLAGABRIELA]

There’s people that struggle to have a child, people that really really want to raise and love their children and these “parents” selling their kids for drugs! It really breaks my heart 💔

[@fernandasoares4786]

You're a very talent journalist. 👏

[@yogawarriorgirl]

And she was trafficked WHILE she was in government care- You know you live in a dystopian hellscape when...

[@ham-zw8qk]

when she said “burning and itching” I giggled a little bc that’s what lovely peaches be singing LFMAOQPSJDB