The Hippodrome State Theatre had a graphic showing Monday night, displaying the horrors of sex trafficking.
Justice Week 2015 kicked off at 7 p.m. Monday at the Hippodrome with a viewing of “Eden,” a movie about a fictional American kidnapped and sold into the sex trade.
From Feb. 2 to Feb. 7, Gators Against Human Trafficking is helping produce events for Justice Week, started by FIGHT Inc., to create community-wide action against sex trafficking.
Ambrose Douglas, a UF chemical engineering sophomore and the organization’s president, wrote in an email he believes the week of events will shed light on the issue.
“Sadly, it is sometimes an overlooked subject,” Douglas, 19, said. “Bringing people information about the causes and prevention of human trafficking helps keep citizens from becoming victims of this crime.”
FIGHT, which stands for Fight Injustice and Global Human Trafficking, will have an event on each day of Justice Week except Friday in order to raise awareness.
The group’s website said the group will be partnering with Gators Against Human Trafficking, Gators for Free the Slaves and the UF Chapter of the International Justice Mission to showcase a montage today on the Plaza of the Americas.
Other events this week include discussions at Santa Fe College and First Magnitude Brewery on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, and the Run Toward Justice 5K Run/Walk on Saturday.
Before the movie played, FIGHT Vice President Jessy John set the organization’s intentions for the week.
“We want the Gainesville community to stand up for those being trafficked,” John said.
Ambrose said this week will have a positive impact on many areas of the community.
“It also helps law enforcement,” he wrote, “because only educated citizens have the ability to see signs of human trafficking and inform the proper authorities.”
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 2/3/2015 under the headline “Justice Week kicks off with film at Hippodrome about human trafficking"]
