futureblackwakandan:loseurself:intersectionalism:“Here’s a prettyunbelievable story: Laurie Holden i
futureblackwakandan:loseurself:intersectionalism:“Here’s a prettyunbelievable story: Laurie Holden is an actress who plays Andrea on “TheWalking Dead,” but she isn’t just an actress. Holden also works as a humanrights activist with a group called Operation Underground Railroad. It’s anorganization run by an ex-CIA agent named Tim Ballard that works to take downunsavory human traffickers and the like. So, Holden and the group went down toColombia to try to take down a group of men who were trafficking in underageprostitutes. Ballard, Holden and co. ingratiated themselves into this group andset up an elaborate party in an effort to catch these men in the act….” AdamPliskin, Elite Daily “For months, thegroup put together a massive sting operation in cooperation with Colombianauthorities. They each had an elaborate cover story. Ballard’s story was thathe was the best man in a wedding back in the U.S. and was looking to hireseveral underage prostitutes for a big bachelor party in Cartagena. The coverwas meant to lure the sex traffickers into a setup so that Ballard and his teamcould rescue the girls, many of whom were under 18. … In order for Colombianofficials to prosecute the sex traffickers, they have to catch them exchangingmoney for the girls on tape. … Holden’s job was to “keep [the traffickers]occupied by the pool area while Ballard and the undercover officers worked tocatch the traffickers on tape exchanging money.” Candace Smith and AristidesPinedo-Burns, ABC News “When thetraffickers agree on camera to to pimp out the underage girls and the money isexchanged, the cops move in to make the arrests. During the ordeal Holden works with socialworkers to comfort the girls, who fear they’re the ones who will be in troubleand that they won’t be paid. Holden is clearly heartbroken when interviewedafter the fact. But she should also be extremely proud of her work.” IanCervantes, ComplexRead more plus videoa godess in our midst Wow wow wow -- source link