Stand Against 'Modern-Day Slavery' Sunday in Morristown

The concept of human trafficking seems like something relegated to television shows, movies and news broadcasts from foreign nations. But according to New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking member Sue Rosenthal, it hits closer to home.

Rosenthal told the Morristown town council Tuesday that the Morris County Prosecutor’s office is aware of human trafficking in the area, particularly due to the proximity to the route 95 corridor.

Raising awareness on this issue is one of the reasons Rosenthal and her group will be mobilizing Sunday on the Morristown Green from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to protest this form of modern day slavery taking place in New Jersey.

“We thank Mayor [Tim] Dougherty who will be there to speak,” Rosenthal said. “And we invite all of you to come out and support us.”

Rosenthal’s group exists to end Human Trafficking in the State, country and the world through education, advocacy and assistance to survivors. Human Trafficking is a form of modern day slavery.  It is a rapidly growing criminal industry second only to drug dealing and equal in scope to arms dealing.  Human Trafficking involves the use of force, fraud and/or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

Rosenthal said that large-scale professional sporting events like the upcoming Super Bowl will “bring the traffickers out.”

The New Jersey Human Trafficking Task Force has launched a new hotline for people to call to report suspected incidents of human trafficking in the state of New Jersey, according to a press release from the state attorney General’s Office.

The hotline – 1-855-END-NJ-HT (1-855-363-6548) –  serves as a constant reminder of New Jersey’s commitment to end human trafficking in the state. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by detectives in the Human Trafficking Unit within the Division of Criminal Justice.

Preparation for the overflow of illegal activities stemming from the Super Bowl has spread out as far as Rockland County, NY.

To become involved in the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking contact crc@jfedgmw.org or 973-929-3087.