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Can you "freeze" for five minutes to raise awareness about human trafficking? Photo by susan catherine via LAist Photo Pool.
Take the concept behind Improv Everywhere and their guerilla style gatherings in public places (like the no pants subway ride) and add an element of activism and a desire to fight social injustices, and you have The Freeze Project.
On Saturday, at 4:30pm, participants will gather at Hollywood and Highland to 'freeze' for 5 minutes to raise awareness about human trafficking. The Freeze Project strives to raise social awareness "not through 'in your face' protests, but by a different kind of activism that creates experiences in public space that are 'fun, non-intrusive….and inclusive.'"
According to the US State Department, 600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across borders every year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children are trafficked yearly. Shockingly, human trafficking in the second largest source of illegal income worldwide exceeded only by drugs trafficking. There are even reports that some trafficking groups are switching their cargo from drugs to human beings, in a search for high profits at lower risk.
Check out a video from a recent freeze project that took place on the Santa Monica Promenade last month.
Join the Freeze project:
Location*: 6801 Hollywood Blvd. (Corner of Hollywood & Highland), Los Angeles, CA
*Meeting Location before the Freeze: Las Palmas Senior Citizen Center, 1820 Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028. PLEASE MEET AT THE PARK BY 4:30 PM.
