WHAT IS NIGHT OF HOPE?
According to the U.S. State Department, Arizona is not only a main destination for sex trafficking, but also a major transit point nationally and internationally. There are several factors that make Arizona a focal point for sex trafficking, including the proximity to Mexico, California, and Las Vegas. Additional factors include Arizona’s climate, access to multiple freeways, popularity with major conferences and frequent use as a professional sports event destination.
According to an article written by the Carlson Law Firm on January 27, 2021, it is important for Arizonans to understand that the Super Bowl generates millions of dollars each year. In fact, former Texas Attorney General, Gregg Abbott once referred to the Super Bowl as, “the single largest human trafficking event in the United States.” Large sporting events not only increase labor opportunities, but with an increase in the population of people, it makes women and children prime targets for sex advertising. In fact, criminally organized sex rings will travel from one location to another to meet the potential demand of large sporting events. The McCain Institute says that there is an estimate of as many as 10,000 sex trafficking victims flooding cities that host the Super Bowl.
With the Super Bowl LVII coming to Arizona in 2023, this is an opportunity for our community to take a stand and say, “Not in our city!”. Join us on Friday, February 10, 2023 as we take a stand in solidarity with churches, front-line organizations, government officials and our community for the 5th year in a row to end Human Trafficking in our state.
In light of National Human Trafficking Awareness month, recognized each January, over 30 East Valley churches unite to host Night of Hope to rally the community in putting an end to this horrific crime in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Human trafficking is a serious crime and violation of human rights, involving force, coercion, or fraud to exploit a person into slave labor or sexual exploitation.
Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” The Word of God is clear on what we are called to do against this atrocity whereby people are being enslaved against their will to profit the wicked.