Speak Free

Friday January 12, 2024

Martin Luther King Jr., prisons, and the 13th Amendment

Robert Boneburg

In 1963, Martin Luther King wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, which, more than sixty years later, speaks eloquently to the issues of that time and today. Dr. King's compelling discourse, written from the confines of a jail cell, aligns with the prison epistles of St. Paul and the writings of visionary figures like Thoreau, Gandhi, and Mandela – all of whom found inspiration behind bars. The contemplation of these writings, and these lives, invites us to grapple with enduring questions that span human history: who faces imprisonment, and for what reasons? How are those within th

Forced Labor

Tuesday December 12, 2023

5 alternative holiday traditions: All the joy, none of the forced labor

Krysta Bisnauth

'Tis the season – to buy, buy, buy. Whether it’s gifts, decorations, or outfits for holiday events, there seems to be an ever-growing list of things we need to spend on to participate in the usual festivities. This can quickly grow expensive and stressful. But the Freedom United community has an additional burden: how do we navigate the pitfalls of supply chains tainted by modern slavery without being a total Grinch? Fortunately, the Freedom United team has some ideas! Here are the top recommendations from my colleagues for a holiday season that prioritizes meaning over materialism. Join

Liberation

Wednesday December 6, 2023

Genocide and modern slavery share root causes

Krysta Bisnauth

In a world marred by the shadows of injustice and cruelty, the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime serves as a stark reminder of our collective responsibility to safeguard the fundamental human rights that weave the fabric of our shared existence. At Freedom United, we stand at the forefront of the fight against modern slavery. As we commemorate this day, our focus extends beyond the specific instances of atrocity, urging a contemplation on the very essence of humanity—the inherent right to life, dignit

Other slavery

Thursday November 30, 2023

Abolition is an aspiration, not a fact

Ellie Finkelstein

The terms “slavery” and “abolition” are widely recognized as referring to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and the dates that this institution was supposedly abolished. The history of the slave trade is taught in timelines, locations on a map, resistance movements, and mentions of historically significant figures. While this horrific history is often referred to in conversations around slavery and abolition movements today, it is regarded as a fixed moment in time with a beginning and an end – left in the past. However, to thoroughly interrogate systems of slavery in its evolvi

Human trafficking

Thursday October 12, 2023

The U.K. Illegal Migration Act promotes trafficking and is inhumane – full stop.

Ellie Finkelstein

October 18th is Anti-Slavery Day, a day marked to symbolize the importance of raising awareness and the need to eradicate all forms of slavery, human trafficking, and exploitation. Ironically, the U.K. recognizes this day as a national call to action, yet the government is doing more than failing in its stated aspirations. How? By the passing of legislation that undermines efforts to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking and attempts to justify asylum seekers' deportation to a third country. Aiding trafficking, condemning victims The Illegal Migration Act contains some of the mo

Forced Labor

Wednesday August 30, 2023

Disability and modern slavery: lack of attention as harmful as deliberate malice

Brendan Hyatt

This is an abridged version of the article originally published on Human Trafficking Search to support the three-part podcast series 'Disability and human trafficking' available on Rethink Freedom. In my recent research, I've delved into the under-explored connection between disability and human trafficking. This overlooked issue came to my attention during my time at Grinnell College in Iowa. I stumbled upon the case of EEOC vs Hill County Farms, a landmark civil case that exposed the convergence of disability and trafficking. The case centered on dozens of intellectually disabled men traf

Anti-slavery activists

Tuesday August 22, 2023

Remembering, reckoning and repairing: the importance of teaching history for a slavery-free world

The Transatlantic Slave Trade was rooted in race. It solidified the concept of white supremacy and the systematic displacement of millions of Africans. Today, August 23, we remember the 12.4 million human beings that were loaded onto slave ships and carried through the ‘middle passage.’[1] We remember the 1.8 million people who died while on the Atlantic Ocean, who were cast overboard to the sharks that followed the wake of the ships. And we remember the 10.6 million people who survived and were forced into the vicious plantation system that built the Americas. August 23 is also

Anti-slavery activists

Monday July 31, 2023

Emancipation Day and the call for reparations

Krysta Bisnauth

What do reparations movements look like where you are? Share your comments below! In the Caribbean, August 1 is Emancipation Day, an occasion commemorating the end of the transatlantic slave trade, celebrating the fight for freedom as well as remembering the ancestors who suffered unimaginable cruelties. Although ended almost 200 years ago, for this region, the epicenter of this distinctively brutal enterprise, the legacy of colonialism and slavery continues to reverberate to this day, shaping socio-economic and political landscapes and rendering the region vulnerable to a myriad of contempo

Human trafficking

Friday July 28, 2023

Freedom United welcomes Human Trafficking Search to our community

Joanna Ewart-James

Freedom United is excited to announce that Human Trafficking Search is now part of the Freedom United family. The two organizations share a goal of bringing you timely and informed analysis of all forms of human trafficking issues worldwide. Who is Human Trafficking Search? It is a global resource and database, based in the U.S., like Freedom United. On its website, you can read news articles, watch videos, view art, explore research, and blog posts covering all forms of human trafficking. These include resource hubs on prison labor, foster care and trafficking, and the war in Ukraine. Shared

Anti-slavery activists

Friday June 16, 2023

Kenyan domestic worker stranded in Lebanon over inability to buy her flight ticket

This piece is an account written by Wanja Kimani who helped support Catherine Ranji, a migrant domestic worker in Lebanon. June 19, 2023 update: Good news! Catherine will finally reach her home country this week. Catherine Wanjiru Ranji is a 25-year-old Kenyan who hails from Karibaribi in Gatundu North, Kiambu County. She is currently stranded in Beirut, Lebanon. She first reached out to me in August 2022 while looking for assistance to return home. She had worked in Lebanon as a domestic worker for some time until she fell out with her madam over unpaid wages. The office, too, kicked her ou