First Lady Cecilia Abbott Addresses #Stand4Freedom Rally On Texas Ending Modern Slavery Day
First Lady Cecilia Abbott today addressed attendants of the Texas Ending Modern Slavery Day #Stand4Freedom Rally on the south steps of the Texas Capitol. After thanking activists for their tireless efforts to end human trafficking, Mrs. Abbott read a letter from Governor Abbott highlighting Texas’ leadership in the fight to end modern slavery and his record of giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
“I am so proud to see so many students and so many people of faith standing here today as witnesses to the good that we can do together to end human slavery,” said Mrs. Abbott. “In the face of such evil we may feel too small and too weak to make a difference, but nothing is impossible if we believe.”
View Governor Abbott’s letter to #Stand4Freedom Rally attendants.
First Lady Cecilia Abbott’s Texas Ending Modern Slavery Day Remarks:
Thank you, Seth. And thank you all for being here today.
I am so proud to see so many students and so many people of faith standing here today as witnesses to the good that we can do together to end human slavery.
In the face of such evil we may feel too small and too weak to make a difference. But I am reminded of a lesson in Matthew.
Even if our faith is the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains.
Nothing is impossible, if we believe.
And I do believe, because I’ve seen the commitment of leaders in this state, including my husband, Governor Greg Abbott.
He’s fought his entire career to protect the defenseless. And he’s been a national leader in the fight against human trafficking.
Though Greg could not be with us today, he asked that I share this message.
From Governor Greg Abbott:
To all Texans who stand for freedom and against modern slavery, thank you for giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
Human trafficking and slavery destroy a person’s dignity and cruelly strip away an individual’s humanity.
Human traffickers hold men, women and children against their will.
Through force, fraud or coercion, these victims are made to work in the sex industry.
I have seen the horrific trauma inflicted on its victims.
Some are just girls, as young as 12 – who are sold as mere property, as slaves.
Texas is a national leader in the fight to end human trafficking.
The State of Texas passed one of the first state-level anti-trafficking laws in the United States in 2003.
Regional task forces were established across the state to identify victims, create response systems and bring traffickers to justice.
In 2009, Texas created the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force, which I chaired.
And in 2011, the Texas Legislature passed 32 of our recommendations to help identify trafficking victims, strengthen victim protections and increase the number of prosecutions.
In 2013, ten more recommendations became law, including increased penalties for traffickers and added services for victims.
And this year, thanks to Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Rep. Ed Thompson and all of my partners in the Legislature, a bill has passed in the House giving prosecutors and law enforcement officers even more tools to crack down on human traffickers.
This legislation also empowers my office to coordinate care for children who are victimized by sex traffickers.
But there is more we can do. There is more we must do. Here at home, and around the world.
I would like to thank all of the students present for your energy and passion, for speaking out and for taking action.
You are sending a message to the world that as people of faith, as people of conscience, we will not respond with apathy, but with resolve.
Because we stand for freedom.
I encourage all Texans to learn more about recognizing the signs of trafficking.
With your support, Texas will continue to lead the fight to stop the criminal enterprises profiting from this heinous exploitation and end this scourge on our humanity.
May God bless you and your families and may God forever bless the great State of Texas.
I join my husband in thanking you for all you are doing on your campuses, in your churches, and in our communities.
Working together, in faith, we can move mountains, and ensure that even the future is bigger in Texas.
Thank you, and God bless you.