Protest shines light on human trafficking

“Wake up America. Your silence is deafening. This is real“ were a few of the repetitive chants shouted Friday from the Black River Coliseum parking lot.

Poplar Bluff and Doniphan parents describing themselves as protestors gathered shortly before noon to rally friends and neighbors to become more aware of human trafficking and pedophilia.

Organizers Christian Grubbs and Megan Mitchell of Poplar Bluff showed up early. The parents of four young children were eager to get their message out.

“With everything going on in the world with human trafficking and pedophilia, my wife and I thought we could raise awareness,” Grubbs said. “I feel like everyone is seeing all of this information, and the world is blindly turning an eye.”

They thought their actions might “help someone who is being trafficked,” Grubbs said.

While the couple called it a protest, it also was a rally, Grubbs admitted, saying it was more about raising awareness.

Grubbs explained they’ve been promoting the event for more than a month hoping more people would hear about it.

While he and Mitchell are “really passionate” about the cause, they hope people know “what is going on is real. People need to responsible in the worse way.”

Admitting they had never organized a protest before, the couple didn’t let their enthusiasm be damped.

Mitchell was vocal with her chants at passing motorists.

“Don’t look away; are you uncomfortable yet,” she would yell. “We hear your cries.”

Often people driving by would honk their vehicle’s horns and/or wave

Joining the gathering was a delegation from Doniphan, including Crisda and Chris Langgin and their 4-year-old daughter Mischa; grandmother, Wanda Belcher, who was keeping a baby comfortable in an air-conditioned vehicle, Stefanie Narey and her daughter, Scarlett Mary. Also from Poplar Bluff were Jacob Bruce and Linda Psalmonds.

Crisda Langgin explained she had seen many videos featuring children who have been molested and raped.

“It ruins a child, and I don’t want my child to have to go through that,” Crisda Langgin said.