Human trafficking too close to ignore

    Never shying away from the tough topics — slavery, prostitution, child labor, rape — Christian rock band Remedy Drive uses their music to shed light on the tragedy of human trafficking.
    On Friday, April 27, at 7 p.m., Remedy Drive will be bringing their message of hope to Holyoke for a human trafficking awareness concert at the Holyoke High School old gym. Tickets are available online at www.itickets.com/events/394986.
    David Zach, lead singer for the band, has spent the last few years partnering with The Exodus Road to prevent future human trafficking, rescue victims and care for survivors. Zach has traveled several times as an undercover operative in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
    He’s seen the brothels and red-light districts firsthand as he’s helped gather evidence of sex trafficking, working with local authorities to arrest traffickers. Through the work of The Exodus Road, 908 survivors have been rescued and 386 offenders have been arrested in six different countries.
    To say it’s been life-changing would be an understatement. Remedy Drive recently released their second counter-trafficking album, “The North Star,” named after a newspaper published by abolitionist Frederick Douglas. The songs on that album tell real stories of modern day slaves. As Zach said himself in an interview with The Christian Beat, “There’s a desperation in these melodies which comes directly from a desperation in my heart. I want to see change. I want to see freedom. I want to see justice.”
    The band’s passion is evident in the music, their undercover work and even in their merchandise, which creates jobs for survivors of sex trafficking. As they tour, sharing their music and abolitionist work, Remedy Drive also serves as a reminder of what an individual can do to make a difference.
    
Human trafficking isn’t a problem confined to third world countries
    Remedy Drive is a band from Nebraska. The Exodus Road is based in Colorado. Organizers of the April 27 event in Holyoke are particularly excited for the opportunity to show the youth and adults of the region that people in their own area can make a difference on a global scale.
    And though Zach travels overseas for many of his missions, the Holyoke event is a reminder that human trafficking can happen anywhere.
 

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