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Former Slave to Lead ‘Freedom March’ Around Boston

March along Freedom Trail will call for end to modern-day slavery

BOSTON — On November 6, activists from all over New England will gather to demonstrate their support for the modern anti-slavery movement at the “Freedom March” hosted by the American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG). The march will cover 2.7 miles along the historic Freedom Trail in recognition of the estimated 27 million people currently enslaved around the world.

The march will begin at noon at the Rotunda in Boston Common. Participants will march past historic landmarks of the country's original abolitionist movement of nearly 200 years ago.

Recent media attention — including Ricky Martin’s appearance on Oprah and last week’s Lifetime miniseries on human trafficking starring Mira Sorvino — has highlighted the problem of international sex slavery. However, sex trafficking is only one of many kinds of contemporary slavery in which an estimated 27 million people are trapped today.
Beatrice Fernando, a former slave-turned-activist who will lead the march Sunday, is one such example. A native of Sri Lanka, Fernando was deceived by a local “employment agency” and trafficked to Lebanon, where she was beaten, starved and forced to work 20 hours a day by a wealthy Beirut woman. Fernando finally escaped by jumping off her slaveholder’s fourth story balcony.

“This march will remind Boston that slavery still exists and that we have a responsibility to do something about it,” remarked Fernando. “The world is not ‘out there;’ it is right here, with you and me. When we take a step against slavery, the world will take another step.”

The American Anti-Slavery Group is the first anti-slavery organization created in the United States since the Civil War. Working in collaboration with survivors of slavery and a network of over 30,000 activists, AASG fosters public awareness and grassroots activism in order to eradicate slavery around the world.

Contact Diane Nguyen at 617-426-8161 for an interview.