The alarming statistics of child abuse and sex trafficking are being put in the local spotlight.
Ashlee Burton lead a demonstration to city hall Wednesday afternoon with her group Giant Hearts, saying they want action to put a stop to children being put in harms way, a crisis they feel is only getting worse. “It’s just a huge issue, and the children are suffering, and I don’t see anyone standing up for them. So that’s why we’re here, somebody’s got to do it.”
Participant Raechel Reed adds there are too many other social issues, including COVID-19, taking our attention away from a problem involving too many children.
“I’m not sure what the stats are, but they are in the hundreds of thousands of children that go missing every year in Canada and the United States, and a million world wide. We need to start focusing on what matters,” says Reed.
The Thunder Bay woman adds they will keep pressuring authorities to take action, while Burton points out this is a problem swept under the rug far too much and people need to be more aware of it. “Children are now killing children, abuse is rampant, sex trafficking is far too common. And it’s not just on a big scale.”
Organizers were pleased with many people honking their horns in support, as well as Councillor Aldo Ruberto joining the walk.
