Crowd gathers in Fawick Park to raise awareness of child trafficking

More than a hundred people gathered in Fawick Park on Saturday to demonstrate against child trafficking.

The event was organized to raise awareness and money for Operation Underground Railroad, a nonprofit that assists governments in rescuing trafficking victims — and had no connection to similar rallies nationwide based on conspiracy theories like QAnon organizers said.

Asked on Thursday, they said they'd ask anyone who expressed those beliefs to leave, and for at least the early parts of the event they didn't have to have that discussion.

Organizer Jamie Conners, speaking during the event, thanked attendees for their presence, saying "it is so easy to sit at home and do nothing."

Raffle tickets and t-shirts were being sold to raise money for OUR alongside donations with a stated goal of $5,000, although Conners said she wasn't sure how much had been donated as of 2:30 p.m.

Members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, as well as local group Call to Freedom, were in attendance at the event as well, where every thirty seconds, a speaker blared the words "Every thirty seconds a child is sold" across the park.

A group called the Stone Shatter Singers played in a ceremonial drum circle, representing indigenous women and children who were the victims of trafficking.

Conners said this would not be a singular event, either, promising to continue to make the issue known.

"We're not going to sit still anymore," she said, "and we're not going to stay silent anymore."