As co-writers and director of the movie Sound of Freedom, we have been disheartened to see controversy and partisanship detract from the true purpose of our work: to bring awareness to the harsh reality of child trafficking. When we began this project in 2015, we believed that ending child trafficking was an issue that could unite everyone, regardless of political affiliation. It is not a conservative or a liberal issue, but a fundamental human rights issue that strikes at the very core of our humanity.
Child trafficking is a difficult and disturbing subject, but it is encouraging to see that millions of people from across the political spectrum have gone to theaters to watch our movie. In fact, a study reported by Newsweek found that Sound of Freedom has received favorable views from both Republicans and Democrats. This should not be surprising, as the movie was made for all human beings, not for any particular political group. The moral imperative to end child trafficking is obvious to the human heart.
It is crucial that we confront the issue of child trafficking in all its aspects. According to the Department of Justice, America is one of the largest consumers of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), and our money contributes to both domestic and international trafficking. We must acknowledge and eradicate the sexual exploitation of children, and address the societal issues and criminal enterprises that make children vulnerable to trafficking.
Awareness is the first step. There are numerous trustworthy sources, such as the United Nations, the US Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement, where you can gather information and statistics about trafficking. These facts will disturb you, but they should also motivate you to support the organizations dedicated to fighting human trafficking.
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Solving the problem of child trafficking will require political engagement, despite the complexities and divisions of our current political climate. However, we cannot allow our divided politics to prevent us from taking action in the fight against child trafficking.
Everyone who has seen Sound of Freedom knows that the movie is not political. It is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who left his job to rescue trafficked children. When we developed and wrote the story, politics never entered the conversation. Personal politics should be irrelevant when rescuing children from human trafficking.
Sound of Freedom has been labeled as “faith-based” or a “Christian thriller.” However, the movie was made for people of all faiths and those with no faith. It is a film that should resonate with everyone because child trafficking is an issue that affects us all.
Unfortunately, our movie has also been associated with extreme conspiracy theories, despite the fact that it was written and shot well before anyone had heard of such theories. Sound of Freedom does not reference these theories, as many reputable media outlets have confirmed. The movie was inspired by actual events reported by major media outlets.
While we may have compressed the timeline and adjusted certain events for creative reasons, Sound of Freedom was never intended to be a documentary. As the Los Angeles Times stated, the movie tackles a brutal and uncontroversial topic: the exploitation of children is a horrific crime that must be stopped. We trust that viewers will recognize the importance and authenticity of our work.
We understand that people have different perspectives on many issues, including those portrayed in the movie. However, our intention in making Sound of Freedom was to unite people around the fundamental human rights issue of child trafficking. No single interest group owns this issue; it affects us all because it is happening in the world we all share.
The question is what we will collectively do to address this issue. Ending child trafficking requires a unified effort from individuals, organizations, and governments to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Let us set aside our differences and work together to bring an end to the heinous crime of child trafficking.
