For some time now, on the second Saturday of January, people in Los Angeles have participated in a Freedom Walk that brings them together to pray, hear powerful survivor stories, advocate, and serve as a public witness.
The Los Angeles Freedom Walk, led by women religious and organizations working to end human trafficking, creates a deeply moving experience that transforms awareness into action for families, students, and everyday individuals seeking to learn and engage in ending sex trafficking and enslaved labor. A journey that begins with reflection and awareness and ends with collective energy and powerful witness.
Survivor testimonies are shared with strength and truth, turning abstract issues into lived realities. These stories carry pain, resilience, and hope, reminding listeners that trafficking and exploitation are not distant concepts but human experiences that generate awareness, empathy, and response.
Students often experience the Freedom Walk as a turning point. Many arrive with limited exposure to these issues but leave with a deeper understanding of how trafficking and exploitation intersect with everyday life. It is the hope that by participating in this Walk for Freedom event, it will encourage participants to be more aware of online dangers, labor exploitation, sex trafficking, and the importance of protecting one another while extending support to those affected. The walk empowers parents to view prevention as beginning at home, rooted in awareness, education, and vigilance.
The program concludes with a practice session of chants to energize our participants to become powerful witnesses on the Hollywood streets. Practicing chants unifies the crowd, giving participants a shared language and purpose. It transforms emotion into voice, preparing them to step beyond reflection and into action
Participants will alternate between two groups as they chant:
“Stop human trafficking!” “People are not for sale!”
“No más trata!” “ No more trafficking!”
This collective movement instills confidence, reminding young people that their voices matter to anyone willing to speak up.
As we move into the streets energized and united, we are led by drummers whose rhythms set both pace and purpose. As the walk progresses through Hollywood streets, voices rise together in chants. Passersby pause, listen, and often cheer in support—some curious, some moved, others inspired. Some cheers and encouragement from strangers affirm that the message resonates beyond the group itself. This is where a quote by William Wilberforce, abolitionist, comes to mind: “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”
By walking, listening, and learning together, the Freedom Walk transforms awareness into a shared commitment. It affirms that ending exploitation begins with informed, compassionate communities willing to engage, protect, and advocate for the most vulnerable among us.
