While others are living a dream, there are millions of people living a labor and sexually exploited nightmare in the United States of America. Reflecting on the work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded me that he advocated not only for civil rights for racial minorities, but he also advocated for human rights for all members of the human race.
Although legislation such as the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished discrimination and slavery as we know it, human rights are still being violated every day. All around the world, men, women and children are trafficked into sex labor and other industries. But where is the official modern-day Emancipation Proclamation for these people?
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Treaty was signed by the U.S. in 1981, but it still has not been ratified. A human rights movement still has not become mainstream. King was able to accomplish a phenomenal amount of work in such a short time, but what about us? Who is the human rights champion of our generation? I hope that students did more than just some community service this MLK Day. I hope students truly reflected on what King started, and think of ways to finish it: attaining human rights for all.
Roberta Roberts
Public Relations senior at UF
