SVU and the Orange Campaign

I love watching cop shows.  CSI, Cold Case, Law and Order (along with all the other off-shoots: Criminal Intent, Special Victims Unit, and the short-lived Los Angeles) are all viewed fairly regularly in this house.  My favorite to watch would have to be SVU, though.  It brings out the inner vigilante in me. Any time the criminal (or 'perp' as they say) is arrested or being brought to trial, I find myself almost wishing that some anonymous gunman will bring him down, or one of the officers escorting him will lose his temper and punch the perp in the face.  Horrible, I know, but hopefully understandable as well.  The crimes that SVU investigates and prosecutes, although fictional, are also terrible in nature, and based on events that unfortunately happen every day in our broken world.  My murderous anger at these crimes is not completely unfounded.

One crime being perpetrated is that of Human Trafficking, or the sex slave industry.  Two children a day are sold into a life of abuse, torture, and mutilation for profit.  It's a harsh reality, and it's easy to read those words and be so disturbed by this fact that you put it out of your mind.  It's easy to say, "Oh, that's horrible, but it's happening halfway across the world.  What can I do?" and move on with your day, without realizing that this happens in the U.S. as well.  But usually, what is easy isn't right.  For me, it's impossible to hear horrible facts like these, and not do something, even if it's small.

That's why I'm participating in The Orange Campaign, an awareness initiative of Redeem The Shadows.  In honor of today being National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and in an effort to raise even more awareness about this insidious crime, the organizers of this campaign are making a simple plea: wear orange today, and tell people why.  Atrocities thrive in the dark, and the more light that is shed, the harder it is for those committing these acts to hide.

My reason is because I have two children of my own, two beautiful girls.

The idea of these girls being taken from me, and of someone doing anything to hurt them is unthinkable and painful.  They are why I'm wearing orange, so that another mother might be able to keep her two children from being harmed, and have to experience that pain.

Outfit Details:
Top - thrifted, $3.50
Skirt - DIY from dress, Wal-Mart, $7
Tights - JC Penney, $6
Oxfords - Sears, $5 (clearance)
Necklace - $1 Jewelry Store

All clothing on the kiddos is from Once Upon A Child