Moorestown High School Students Discuss Human Trafficking

Students at Moorestown High School continued their decade-long observance of Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

Students held a number of educational events to commemorate International Human Rights Day, school officials said on Tuesday.

Students in Mr. Lazarow’s War and the Fantastic class presented their research on human trafficking in two assemblies.

In the third period presentation, student speakers Graham Litton, Alice Liu, Quinn Smith, and Rich Haydinger, spoke about different kinds of human trafficking and presented statistics.

In the 10th period, speakers Pastor Cyle Chapman and Brandy Smith from H.E.A.A.T spoke to students about how to recognize instances of human trafficking and how to defend themselves against traffickers.

H.E.A.A.T is an organization devoted to stopping human trafficking and helping victims.

In anticipation of the event, students from the class spent the month planning and holding bake sales and hot chocolate/coffee sales, making homeroom announcements, and creating a poster for the cafeteria.

Human Rights Club leader Zarina Chaudury organized a two-day forum on the subject of human rights, including the origins of the international observance day and current human rights violations.

Club members Chaudry, Emma Burns, Skylar Fox, Connor Lindeboom, Abby Clifford, Adam Panish, John Pfrommer, and Jessica Saludedes facilitated the discussion, aided by advisor Perri Geller-Clark and media specialist John Bishop . Bishop has been an integral part of the human rights observances for more than a decade.

Over 60 students attended each afternoon’s film screening and discussion on the history of human rights, individuals’ and nations’ responsibilities towards human rights violations, and current events including recent occurrences in Ferguson, MO. Attendees included members of the Multicultural Club, Mr. Mikal Lundy, advisor.

Both the class and the club agreed that the events were very well attended and exceed expectations.

They hoped both events raised student awareness of choices and responsibilities towards the violations of rights of friends and strangers alike.