Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: Human Trafficking Expert and Survivor Dr. Teresa Merriweather gets a hug from Jasmine Hall, social action cochair, Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., after a recent human trafficking forum.
According to the International Labour Organization, 40.3 million people are trafficked yearly, with 24.9 million in forced labor.
Chawn Greene, the facilitator for the Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s recent Human Trafficking Forum at New Creation Church of God, pointed out these victims are “forced to do the unthinkable.”
Dr. Teresa Merriweather, BA, MSCJ, CSI, the keynote speaker for the forum, is a human trafficking expert and survivor, as well as Chief Executive Officer at Trafficked Lives Matter Hand-in-Hand in Lorain and Youngstown, Ohio. She also has staff and a building overseas and plans to start Hand-in-Hand there.
As a child, Merriweather appeared to have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. However, she shared that her father was abusive, and she used to read and daydream a lot to escape.
Merriweather, who also previously worked as a parole officer in North Carolina, talked about when she started attending church and Bible study regularly.
There, she met a man.
“He didn’t look like me,” she said. “He was older than me and had money – executive of a major company. And at that time, he had three cars. I didn’t have a car. I started dating him before I knew him.”
She became engaged to this man, and she said he gave her money and lavished her with gifts. Soon after, he talked her into moving to Kentucky with him, which she did.
Family and friends asked her what she was doing cohabitating with a pastor before marriage.
“You couldn’t tell me nothing,” she said of herself at the time.
According to Merriweather, they lived in a place bigger than an apartment but smaller than a house. He gave her his debit cards to furnish the place how she wanted.
“I didn’t know that pastor was a trafficker.”
Initially, Merriweather was told by her trafficker he would buy her a car. He helped her get her hair done all the time.
However, things started to change. Her trafficker began isolating her.
Merriweather shared she was taking anti-anxiety medication, but her trafficker replaced the medication with opioids and other drugs, causing Merriweather to become a drug addict.
She also took blood pressure medication, but she was prevented from seeing a doctor to get her medication refilled.
“He became more and more abusive. The psychological. I heard somebody say trauma bound. It’s real!”
As things continued to spiral and Merriweather continued to be addicted to drugs, the trafficker introduced her to a life she never knew. Merriweather recalls waking up not knowing how many men she has serviced. She also remembers wanting to kill herself.
“That was my life. He knew I needed him.”
But something was still inside Merriweather that caused her not to settle where she was in life.
Having what she calls the faith of a mustard seed and help from others, Merriweather was able to escape to a safe house and eventually made it back to Ohio. She is thankful to those who supported her, including who she calls a “Biblical counselor therapist.” At one point, the therapist offered Merriweather a warm bed, clothed her, but most important taught her what the Bible says about boundaries.
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Merriweather said of God and her current life: “I rescue others because He rescued me.”
Jasmine Hall, social action cochair, Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., advised those who attended the recent forum of how to speak up for adults and children caught in human trafficking. She suggested raising awareness by educating others, including on social media or at community events. She also recommended committing to advocating for human trafficking survivors through driving policy and legislation. Hall said community members can also support survivors by donating to organizations that provide critical services, such as housing and legal assistance.
“If you don’t have the opportunity to donate, offer your time,” said Hall.
Finally, Hall said, report human trafficking if you observe or suspect human trafficking.
She added: “If you see something, if you suspect something, say something – because you are the difference.”
If you are a victim of human trafficking or you suspect someone is being trafficked, call 911.
