Our conference board draws from across the college, within the community, and in faith communities, but the students of S.T.O.P. (Sex Trafficking Opposition Project) are the engine behind both the conference and the movement to abolish 21st century slavery here in Macon.
S.T.O.P. began in a first year seminar class called “Engaging the World.” While writing their research essays on contemporary ethics and justice, students started asking questions about the many spas and spa billboards dotting Macon’s landscape. They soon joined ranks with members of Baptist Collegiate Ministries and Women’s and Gender students enrolled in a course devoted to violence against women. At the end of spring semester 2008, this diverse coalition of students formed S.T.O.P. (Sex Trafficking Opposition Project): middle-Georgia’s first anti-trafficking group. They resolved to bring a conference to Mercer, and they set out to raise awareness about sex trafficking.
In the past few months, S.T.O.P. has led the evening news on all four major news networks, spoken state-wide on National Public Radio’s Georgia Gazette, inspired articles on sex trafficking in Macon’s conventional and alternative newspapers, supported massage parlor regulation at City Council, and helped bring anti-trafficking training to the police force and members of the Macon Crisis Line & Safe House. After staging a second series of spa arrests, Chief Mike Burns of the Macon Police Department credited S.T.O.P. with helping him transform traditional raids into potential rescues.
Because of S.T.O.P.’s grassroots activism, in the past half year one child sex trafficking victim was freed from a Macon spa and five spas have shut their doors.
S.T.O.P. will continue to raise awareness in Macon and around the state, helping Georgians come together to end trafficking in the state, nationally, and internationally.
We ask for your help in this effort rescue victims, revive survivors, prosecute traffickers, raise awareness, and strengthen anti-trafficking laws.
We are all responsible now.
How S.T.O.P. got started
March 2008
A group of first year seminar students begin to ask questions about the massage parlors in Macon after reading about Judeo-Christian concepts of justice for the suffering in a course entitled "Engaging the World."
April 2008
The first year students join ranks with members of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, as well as Women’s and Gender Studies students enrolled in a course devoted to violence against women. Together, they form S.T.O.P. (Sex Trafficking Opposition Project)--middle-Georgia’s first anti-trafficking group.
June 2008
Chris Horne publishes a front page expose of massage parlors in the alternative weekly newspaper, 11th Hour.The co-author of that article is a member of S.T.O.P., Whitney Gray. Chris Horne, 11th Hour Article.
The Macon Police Department stages traditional prostitution raids at seven massage parlors, arresting seven–the first raid in years. Macon Telegraph story.
S.T.O.P. appears on all three broadcast news stations to express concern that potentially trafficked women are being arrested and released to their traffickers. S.T.O.P. Members on local news.
S.T.O.P. goes to the Macon City Council to support legislation for more rigorous regulation of massage parlors. Mayor Reickert expresses his support. WMGT Broadcast, WMAZ Broadcast, Fox24 Broadcast.
July 2008
Nine faculty and student members of S.T.O.P. co-sign a letter to the Macon Telegraph: “Spa Raids Are Just the Beginning.” They argue that the lives of trafficking victims “won’t change if they’re simply arrested, fined, and sent back to their traffickers.”
Macon Police Chief Burns contacts S.T.O.P.
S.T.O.P. arranges training sessions in anti-trafficking protocol for the Macon Police Department.
S.T.O.P. arranges training for Macon Crisis Line & Safe House so that they can work with police on future raids.
The Macon Police Department completes the “second phase of ‘Operation Massage Parlor,” arresting twelve at six spas. Police Chief Burns calls a press conference, explaining that, thanks to the efforts of S.T.O.P., “we approached this phase differently.” Chief Burns says that investigations and operations will be ongoing.
August 2008
Chris Horne’s 11th Hour publishes an article which announces that there is at least one victim of sex trafficking in Macon “and the Macon Police Department (MPD) found her.” Horne’s story tells of a 17-year-old domestic child sex trafficking victim found in one of Macon’s spas during the second phase of “Operation Massage Parlor.”