Below is an interesting and heartbreaking email that I received from www.change.org. It uncovers what some are calling the Super Bowl’s “dirty little secret” and provides practical things you can do to help stop it. Below is the email in it’s original form:
Dear Nate,
Every year, children as young as 11 are trafficked involuntarily to Super Bowl cities. There, football fans – usually men, often inebriated – will pay traffickers to have sex with them.
The Texas Attorney General estimates these kids have a life expectancy of just seven years from the time they’re first trafficked.
This year, the Super Bowl Host Committee is charged “to engage in responsible planning . . . to ensure the readiness of North Texas to host the first Super Bowl in the Cowboys’ new stadium.”
Local anti-trafficking groups have repeatedly offered to help the Committee use its influence to educate fans and the public about the dangers of child trafficking — which could help to prevent thousands of rapes and abuses at America’s biggest sporting event.
But the Host Committee has refused to take meaningful action. And thousands of children will pay the price.
Tell the 2011 Super Bowl Host Committee to take a stand against child trafficking.
In Dallas, a terrific local organization called Traffick911 has created the “I’m Not Buying It” campaign. They’ve offered the Host Committee free PSAs, posters, banners and informational cards to educate the public and protect children from being abused and raped.
But the Host Committee refuses to display the information.
The Committee is working hard right now to generate good publicity for North Texas and the game, so public pressure at this moment will be especially powerful.
Tell the Super Bowl Host Committee that they have a responsibility to protect the children who’ll be trafficked to Texas for the Super Bowl:
http://change.org/petitions/view/ask_the_super_bowl_host_committee_to_stand_up_and_protect_children
After you sign, please forward this email to friends and family to let them know about this crisis, and how they can help.
Thanks for taking action,
– Patrick and the Change.org team
P.S. Once you add your name, click here to share this campaign on Facebook.