Last week, I read a deeply disturbing article in the New York Post about a brothel operating in the middle of Queens, complete with grim photographs and details of police essentially looking away.

It has continued to trouble me since then.

Though it is difficult to read, I encourage everyone to do so, to understand first what is happening:

New York Post Brothel Article.

In considering the women in these situations, we must be aware that they are so often trafficking victims and are being held forcibly and abused.

Please read the National Human Trafficking Hotline’s page related to residential brothels here for further information:

National Trafficking Hotline Residential Brothels.

Another resource – a detailed look at prostitution and sexual violence – is also available here:

Intersection Between Prostitution and Sexual Violence.

While I realize I am not sharing anything new here – everyone should now be aware of the seriousness of the human trafficking crisis we are facing – the absolute audacity of these people that I am seeing in the New York Post – unchecked by police – calls for some sort of alarm to be sounded.

In cities like New York, this calls for political pressure to take action.

In most of our daily lives, it means being watchful and aware of the signs of human trafficking.

As always, if you see something, say something.

Always too, we pray diligently for an end to this evil.

Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Grace and Blessings.