Survivors share stories of modern slavery in Washington

WASHINGTON, DC – Saturday’s Stop Modern Slavery Walk on the National Mall aims to give a voice to the voiceless.  Shamere McKenzie knows what it is like not to have a voice and plans to use hers this weekend.  She is a survivor of human trafficking, which includes forced labor and the commercial sex industry.  “I was looking for money to go back to school and I met a man who said he would help me and that’s how I got into the life.”

McKenzie said she realized something was wrong the first night. “He put me to work. I felt like I was violated and he actually choked me to the point of unconsciousness,” she said.  “When I woke up, he turned into Prince Charming.”

She said he apologized and said he didn’t mean to put his hands on her.  He also told her that she wouldn’t have to work as a sex slave any longer.  That proved untrue for the next year and seven months.