The Big Island

Yesterday I participated in Break Free Org's 5k marathon in Oakland. This lovely organization helps to combat human trafficking through education and fundraising events. It was wonderful to see so many people come out and show support for a great charity that helps so many people. Sex slavery is on the rise even more so now then it was a decade ago and it's important that we do something about it.

My race bib on Instagram

I don't know what it's like to be trafficked but as a rape survivor I do know that feeling of your body temporarily not belonging to you and the indoctrinated belief that you are a possession and not a person. Whether the duration of the assault lasts five minutes or five years the recovering process is often the same. Oppression is oppression, albeit human trafficking, rape or domestic violence and it must be eradicated. What can we do about it? We can run, walk, talk, listen and educate ourselves and others. We are not on an island by ourselves. This is not 'your world' and we are not just living in it. I am here and so are you. And there are others too: people that are living but are also hurting and need help and a little compassion. It's not your sole duty to save everyone but it is yours to help someone.

Edipus hopes to partner with Break Free for an event in the future. In the meantime, I encourage you to check out their website and learn more here.

Let's take care of one another. The island is big enough.