3. 2. 1. GO!
Since one of our founding board members, and now Strategy and Business Operations Manager, is an active Crossfit athlete and coach, it was only natural to create a WOD specifically designed for Collective Liberty and its goal – to eradicate human trafficking.
Over 40 million people in the world are being trafficked at any given time according to the International Labor Organization (ILO). 71% are women, 25% are children. Hundreds of thousands of those people are regularly trapped in trafficking – a modern-day form of slavery – every day right here in the United States. While youth are recruited and exploited by traffickers into sex and trafficking from our own suburbs, big and rural cities, traffickers exploit immense vulnerabilities in LGBTQ and immigrant populations. At the heart of human trafficking is traffickers stripping people of choice.
Many of us have worked less than ideal jobs, sometimes in office settings, other times in retail, food service, or just odd jobs. But we all knew that if things truly got bad we could leave. We may have encountered poorly behaved customers or bosses that might have been less than understanding. But it is unlikely we were made to work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, and then hand over most of, or all of, our money to the people we were working for. Or even, as in the recent case in Georgia, assaulted, abused, and even killed because they were seeking safe, respectable work.
Those trafficked into the sex trade experience similar forms of abuse and control. Women, men, and children are all known to be trafficked for sex in the United States. All report having many aspects of their life controlled by their traffickers, from how much soap they’re allowed to use, to where they go during the day, and even when, and what, they eat. All of them are required to earn money for their traffickers.
The first step to ending human trafficking is to learn about it, be aware of how we see and interact with trafficking. To that end, follow Collective Liberty on Facebook and Instagram to learn more. Throughout the year we provide insights about different types of trafficking, highlight local experts, and provide opportunities to support survivors and advocate for better laws in your community.
This WOD (or for non-Crossfitters, Workout of the Day) has a mission – one more barbell. Each minute you will be required to plant your feet, set your body, breathe deep, and snatch heavy. Your lungs will burn. You will wonder “why am I doing this?” But we ask you to fight. Fight because you have the strength and perseverance and, most important, the freedom to choose. You can come and push yourself to physical and mental limits and then go home, or to the office, or brunch, or really anywhere you want. Because right now there are hundreds of thousands of people who have no choice. No choice in their future and no choice in their present.
Join us in this workout to honor the incredible strength of survivors of human trafficking. To stand in solidarity with law enforcement, service providers, and other partners who dedicate their lives to revive choice and healing to survivors. Fight for one more barbell. Fight for a better tomorrow. Fight to ensure freedom is a reality for all.
HOW CAN YOU JOIN THE FIGHT?
Show us your WOD! Post pictures or videos and tag @CollectiveLiberty
