Participants at a Walk for Freedom event hold signs to bring awareness to human trafficking. For the first time the event, which raises awareness about human trafficking, will take place in Tyler at Bergfeld Park on Saturday.

For the first time the Walk for Freedom event, which raises awareness about human trafficking, will take place in Tyler at Bergfeld Park on Saturday.

The Walk for Freedom is held on the same day across the global and aims to raise awareness to the situation of trafficking, signs to look for where trafficking could be involved and finding resources, according to event host Billy Templeton.

“This is the first year for a walk to be held in Tyler,” Templeton said. “Our goal is to host walks in every city in the country and around the world.”

Templeton said there are walks scheduled in more than 250 cities and continues to grow.

“This is an extremely important issue,” he said. “2.2 million children are sold into the sex slave trade every year; that is four children every minute of every day.”

Templeton said he hopes the event will get East Texas communities involved and shed light on a very dark subject.

“We are shining a light on a very dark situation. It’s a subject that is difficult for people to talk about, but we must talk about it,” he said. “There are thousands of children unaccounted for who have been brought into this country through our southern border.”

“A21 stands for ‘abolish slavery in the 21st century’,” Templeton said. “My goal is to bring local organizations together at this event. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

Templeton said the walk is silent and participants are encouraged to wear all black to make an impactful statement.

“This is a silent walk and we wear all black,” he said. “This is one of the fiercest battles we can face — a child’s future is at stake.”

“Today, slavery isn’t just the sex trade which is a $150 billion per year industry. By comparison, Coca Cola revenue for last year worldwide was $43 billion,” Templeton said. “You never know the global impact volunteering for one hour of your time can make. We owe it to our kids to fight until everyone is free.”

Templeton said he will have a limited inventory of black t-shirts for purchase at the event.

There is no fee to participate in the walk which will take place inside the perimeter of the park, approximately a mile and a half.

Templeton said he plans to make host the event every year and is currently looking for volunteers for this year’s inaugural walk.

“My plan is to host a walk in Tyler every year until everyone is free. I am looking for volunteers to register people the day of the event, to hand out water, to contact their churches, there are many ways people can be involved,” he said. “Right now, I am trying to get the word out to as many people as possible.”

Templeton said his goal for this year is 200 participants with a minimum of $5,000 raised for the cause.

Tyler mayor Don Warren will be on hand at the event and will read a proclamation proclaiming Oct. 14 as A21 Walk for Freedom Day.

The event will take place at Bergfeld Park on Sat., Oct. 14 at 9 a.m.

To register for the Walk of Freedom, visit the A21 Tyler Walk of Freedom webpage.

*There are more people enslaved today than any other time in history.

*Human trafficking generates an average of 150 billion dollars per year.

*There are an estimated 40.3 million people enslaved right now.

*Men, women, and children can all be victims of trafficking:

71% women

29% men

25% children

*Slavery happens in every country.

*An estimated 5.4 out of every 1,000 people are enslaved in the world.

Source: A21.org website