Freedom Walk To Take Hard Look at Today's Human Trafficking

Slavery, most think, is something that ended 200 years ago, or maybe takes place on the other side of the earth, but has little to do with life here in Connecticut.

But Not For Sale, an abolitionist group, is holding a walk Sunday in Farmington to explain that’s not the case.

“There is this thing in our backyard. There are slavery arrests in Connecticut and every single one of us takes part in this because we all buy clothes, chocolate, phones that are made by slaves. We’re all involved in the trade business,” said Karen Herbert, regional co-director of the Connecticut Chapter of Not For Sale. In addition, she said, “our kids are vulnerable to sex trafficking, especially young girls who are maybe lonely or isolated.”

The 1.7-mile walk will be hosted in Farmington, with nine stops along the Freedom Trail, from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Each group will follow a tour guide who will explain the history of slavery and how historic slavery compares with what’s happening today.

In addition to the tour, several local groups and businesses will be involved in the event. Middle and high school students in the youth groups will participate by tying orange bands around walkers’ wrists. Wearing orange represents a commitment to stopping slavery.

Ben & Jerry’s of Canton will be on site with the company’s fair trade ice cream. Haiku’s Luscious Cookies will also be available. is sponsoring the event and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center will be doing a chain of change for participants to join.

At the , participants can view a video about slavery. Society members will also speak at locations along the tour.

Joann Zeisner, educational coordinator at will do an activity with children, conducting an abolitionist meeting in which children will vote on the issue of slavery and discuss what to do about it. The house museum will also have a small historical exhibit on slavery in the area.

Raymond Bechard, author of The Berlin Turnpike, will share his true story of human trafficking in Connecticut. Bechard’s book documents a 2007 sex trafficking case, just one in an epidemic Bechard says “has been lurking in every American community for so long.” He will be selling his book at Sunday’s event and donating $5 per book to Not For Sale.

Co-director of Connecticut Not For Sale is Stephen Ferraro, a Unionville resident. He said the goal of Sunday’s event is threefold.

“We want to raise awareness about how slavery affects people’s life today. It affects every single one of us and we don’t even know it,” he said. “We hope to give them an experience and an education about historical slavery in contrast to what’s happening today and tie in some things they can do.”

To that end, Ferraro said participants will leave with cards printed by the New England Coalition Against Human Trafficking that explain how to spot signs of human trafficking and some simple steps to take toward ending it.

Last, the organization hopes to raise money for some of its expenses and projects. Ferraro and Herbert took over the nonprofit when Herbert's daughter moved out of state and begged her mother to continue her work. According to Not For Sale, there are more human beings enslaved now than at any point in human history. Once he knew, there was no choice but to take action, Ferraro said.

“Once you know what’s going on, it’s not one of those things you can forget or that you can turn your back on.”

The Freedom Walk will begin at Miss Porter's Hacker Theater at 1 p.m. The event is scheduled to run until 4 p.m. Participants may register at www.free2walk.org, but walk-ups are welcome.