For those who think that slavery has soon disappeared from the grassroots of America, think again. Sex trafficking in the US is regarded as the modern-day slavery, and young girls are vulnerable.
CNN's "Freedom Project" delves on this issue of sex trafficking in the US which reportedly rakes in millions every year in Atlanta. The grim industry that has long haunted many third world nations is now at the heart of America.
A recent report by CNN on sex trafficking in the US said some traffickers in Atlanta are making more than $32,000 weekly with this illegal industry as stated on the 2014 study by the Urban Institute.
The same study also said that findings from 2007 said Atlanta's sex industry is raking around $290 million a year.
"It's a big city. There's a lot to do in Atlanta. A lot of conventions, a lot of hotels, a lot of parties going on, a lot of events," said Sgt. Torrey Kennedy of the DeKalb County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit in the CNN report. "So just like any businessmen, these traffickers know that."
If this sounds alarming, a victim made a confession in the report which would be more disturbing.
Sacharay, not her real name was only 14 when she lost her way because of being a victim of sex trafficking in the US. She was reportedly "picked up" in the hallways of her middle school in Florida.
"I used to get picked on a lot about being dark-skinned. I started wearing glasses and was called 'four-eyes.' And then they knew because I was so sensitive, they knew it was getting to me," she said in the CNN report.
One of her friends then brought her into the industry itself, by introducing her to men in their mid-30s. A man reportedly courted her with gifts, gave her compliments and more.
She and this man allegedly had sex.
"He was like, 'love you for that, I love you so much,'" Sacharay said. "Then he would slowly put two, three more guys. I got upset when I first realized what he was doing, but I kept doing it because he made me feel like I was special."
It even went worse when was reportedly sold to dozens of men per day, meeting them in motel rooms or even in the back of a barbershop.
She once reportedly had sex with almost 40 guys a day and said she already felt pain, but her trafficker kept pushing her, even threatening her with a gun, the report said.
"What we know about sex crimes is that it's not about sexual pleasure. It's about control," said an Atlanta forensic psychologist. You either become vulnerable to a man on the street or a man you meet in school. You become vulnerable because you're looking for attention."
For more about CNN's "Freedom Project" on sex trafficking in the US, visit this website.
