06/11/2015 | 26m 13s | Video has closed captioning.
Michelle Obama: The First Lady speaks on race relations and becoming a role model. Workplace Priorities: A new IWF study finds women value different things at work. Human Trafficking: The efforts made by Catholic Charities of Arkansas to stop trafficking in America. PANEL: Sam Bennett, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Karin Agness, Francesca Chambers
Aired: 06/11/15
>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... UP FIRST, FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA SPEAKS OUT ON RACE MANY AND WHAT WOMEN REALLY WANT IN THE WORKPLACE MAY SURPRISE YOU.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES HELP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAFFICKED IN THE UPS.
UNITED STATES.
[♪♪♪] HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS.
UP FIRST, THE FIRST LADY.
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA HAS STEPPED UP SPEAKING OUT ON RACIAL TENSIONS FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE AT A SERIES OF COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES.
SOME COMMENTATORS SAY THE FIRST LADY HAS DECIDED SHE AND THE PRESIDENT TOWARD THE END OF HIS SECOND TERM CAN BE ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNG AFTER MAN AMERICANS.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW THE INSTRUMENTALS MANY OF YOU -- STRUGGLES MANY OF YOU FACE.
HOW YOU WALK THE LONG WAY HOME TO AVOID THE GANGS.
HOW YOU FIGHT TO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR HOMEWORK WHEN THERE'S TOO MUCH NOISE AT HOME.
>> BUT CONSERVATIVE PUNDITS REACTED TO HER SPEECHES BY DESCRIBING HER QUOTE BITTERNESS OR TAGGING THEM AS QUOTE A LITANY OF VICTIMIZATION.
CONGRESSMAN NORTON, ARE THE -- CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON ARE THE FIRST LADY'S SPEECHES HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON RACE RELATIONS?
>> SURE THEY ARE AND THE WHITE HOUSE KNOWS IT.
THAT IS WHY MOST OF HER COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES THIS YEAR ARE TO BLACK AUDIENCES OR HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEMES.
>> I'M GLAD TO SEE OUR FEMALE SPEAKERS ARE NOT GETTING PROTESTED AND GETTING THE CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
>> AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE HONESTY AND FORTHRIGHTNESS OF HER COMMENTS.
>> I AM WITH ELEANOR.
THERE IS A REASON THEY HAVE MICHELLE OBAMA OUT THERE SPEAKING ON THE ISSUES.
SHE IS A POWERFUL FORCE FOR THE ISSUES.
AND SOMETIMES HER HUSBAND CAN'T BE.
>> THIS IS NOT NEW FOR HER.
SHE HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT IT'S NEW TO THE END OF HIS SECOND TERM AND I WONDER WHY SHE WAS KEPT SILENT, REALLY, FOR MOST OF HIS TWO TERMS AS PRESIDENT.
>> WELL, SHE HAS BEEN SPEAKING MORE FRANKLY THAN HE HAS BEEN FOR SOMETIME AS YOU SAID.
BUT -- >> IS IT THE TRICKY TRACK OF NOT WANTING TO BE THE PRESIDENT FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS?
BUT BEING THE PRESIDENT FOR ALL AMERICANS?
>> IT IS.
AND IN FACT, I'M TOLD THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS TERM EVERYTIME THE PRESIDENT MADE THE SLIGHTEST ILLUSION TO HIS OWN RACE OR TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS HIS POPULARITY WENT DOWN SEVERAL POINTS.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> THAT IS BECAUSE THIS IS A POLARIZED COUNTRY.
GOT A LOT OF RACISTS IN IT BY THE WAY, STILL.
A LOT OF THEM ARE GETTING OLD AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER BUT THEY STILL VOTE AND HEAR.
AND HE HAS TO THE PRESIDENT OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
>> AND HE HAS A MAJORITY ENOUGH TO GET ELECTED.
MORE PEOPLE DON'T THINK LIKE THAT THAN PEOPLE WHO DO IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> DON'T CONFUSE THE MAGIC OF CAMPAIGNING, RIGHT, OBAMA WAS FOR CHANGE, HOPE DON'T CONFUSE THAT WITH THE EVERYDAY THINKING OF YOUR AVERAGE AMERICAN WHICH THERE IS A STRUGGLE WITH RACISM AND SEXISM.
THAT IS THE THINKING PATTERNS IN THE GROUND WATER OF AMERICA.
>> ISN'T THAT A SAD THING?
I JUST THINK YOU KNOW THIS IS 2015 NOT 1950.
>> HE HAS TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF ALL AMERICANS AND IT CANNOT LOOK LIKE HE IS FAVORING ONE RACE OVER ANOTHER RACE PARTICULARLY IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE WHITE POLICE OFFICERS OR BLACK CHILDREN DYING.
WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THAT SITUATION?
AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY TO MICHELLE OBAMA, I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE WAS BEING SILENCED BEFORE.
I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS SHE IS MORE COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES.
WHEN SHE CAME TO THE WHITE HOUSE SHE WAS NOT AS USED TO BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
>> IN THE FIRST TERM WHEN HE WAS RUNNING DAVID HELP ME THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER, ABSOLUTELY SAID YOU ARE GOING TO QUIT YOUR JOB AND YOU ARE GOING TO CALL YOURSELF MOM IN CHIEF WHICH WAS OFFENSIVE TO A LOT OF WOMEN WHO LOOK TO HER AS AN INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT, INCREDIBLY WELL-EDUCATED WOMAN WHO HAD A FABULOUS CAREER OF HER ONGOING.
>> ON RACIAL ISSUES I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY THAT SHE WANTED TO BE SPEAKING OUT AS SHE DOES NOW.
AND SHE HAS GROWN WITH THE PRESIDENCY AND I THINK SHE HAS BEEN INSPIRED TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS AND HELP THE YOUNG GIRLS SEE HOW SHE GOT TO WHERE SHE IS.
AND THE STRUGGLES SHE HAD.
>> AND I THINK SHE IS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ISSUE.
SHE HAS BEEN IN FRONT ON THE OBESITY CAMPAIGN.
AND THE IDEA OF MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION REGULATION THE HASHTAG CAMPAIGN THAT THINKS MICHELLE OBAMA.
>> AND BEEN OUT THERE ON ORGANIC FOODS AND SHE HAS DONE AND THE BIGGEST PUSH WAS MILITARY FAMILIES.
>> AND SHE IS NOT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ISSUE.
WHAT SHE IS DOING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THIS WOMAN IS CLASSICALLY BLACK.
IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO BLACK PEOPLE NOT JUST BLACK WOMEN OR YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH GIVE ME A BLACK GIRL WORKING CLASS, SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO, EARNS HER WAY INTO THE IVY LEAGUE AND BECOMES A LAWYERMENT I WANT TO HEAR WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO ME, SISTER.
THIS IS THE VOICE SHE COMES FORWARD.
SHE SPEAKS STILL AS IF SHE IS IN THE STREET.
NOT IN STREET TERMS.
BUT YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU MET HER ON THE CORNER OF WHAT IS GHETTO AND SECOND STREET, YOU COULD STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH HER.
THAT IS A RARE QUALITY.
>> AND NOT WITH HER HUSBAND?
>> FAR LESS SO.
>> AND YOUR COLLEAGUE WHO COMMENTED ON MICHELLE SPEAKING CAME FROM THAT BACKGROUND ONE YEAR BEHIND HER IN PRINCETON.
BUT I AGREE.
I DO NOT THINK THAT MICHELLE WAS SILENCED.
I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE APPROPRIATELY AND SMART IN A TACTICAL WAY SAID WHO WOULD BE THE BEST PERSON TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY CHOSE HER.
>> AND THAT ERIC HOLDER IS NO LONGER IN THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE HE HAD DONE THIS JOB FOR THEM IN THE PAST.
SOME PEOPLE SAID IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR HE WAS OBAMA'S TRANSLATOR.
NOW HE IS NO LONGER IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND I DON'T THINK SHE IS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ISSUE.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE PREP SI IS ALMOST OVER AND THIS IS HER LAST OPPORTUNITY IF SHE IS GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH SUCH A PLATFORM.
>> AND YOU COVER THE WHITE HOUSE WHAT IS YOUR GUESS AS -- WHAT IS THE BUZZ IN THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS POOL ABOUT WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO WHEN SHE LEAVES THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> I THINK THEY WILL STAY IN WASHINGTON FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONE DAUGHTER WHO WILL BE GOING THROUGH SCHOOL AND THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY RETURN TO CHICAGO.
THEY MIGHT MOVE TO NEW YORK.
OWE.
>> AND DO WHAT?
BUT OCCUPATION?
IS SHE GOING TO BECOME A CAREER WOMAN AGAIN?
>> YOU KNOW NOT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE OCCUPATION IS GOING TO BE.
THERE'S BUZZ AROUND WHERE THEY WILL LIVE AND MOVE IF THEY WILL GO BACK TO CHICAGO OR NOT.
AND I DON'T THINK THEY WILL.
I THINK THEY WILL STAY IN WASHINGTON.
>> I HOPE SHE RUNS FOR U.S. SENATE.
>> FROM ILLINOIS?
>> WHEREVER SHE WANTS.
SHE IS BRILLIANT.
>> NEW YORK.
>> I WANT TO SAY HOW AFFECTING IT IS TO HEAR A WOMAN WHO IS THE FIRST LADY SAY TO YOU IF YOU ARE IN TODAY'S BLACK COMMUNITY NOT YET RECOVERED TO SAY I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO GO ON A ROUTE THAT TAKES YOU PAST THE GANGS.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO WANT TO STUDY WHEN SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHY ARE YOU IN YOUR BOOKS?
AND LET ME SAY WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
YESTERDAY, I WAS IN A PART OF THE HOOD AND SOMEBODY SAID TAKE OUR PICTURE WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN.
AND A VERY YOUNG WOMAN A TEENAGER AND SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
AND I SAID I'M GETTING MY HAIRCUT WHAT YOU THINK I'M DOING HERE.
YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND NOT MAKE THEM THINK THAT YOU ARE ELEVATED IN SOMEPLACE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN AND NEVER SHOULD STRIVE TO GO TO.
>> BEAUTIFUL POINT.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM THE FIRST LADY TO WOMEN'S PRIORITIES IN THE WORKPLACE.
WHAT WOMEN VALUE IN THE WORKPLACE VARIES BASED ON THEIR AGE, FAMILY STATUS AND POLITICAL BELIEFS.
THAT ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY THE INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM.
FOR EXAMPLE, MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN VALUE WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY AND PAID SICK AND VACATION DAYS MORE THAN NON-MOTHERS.
CHILD-FREE WOMEN VALUE SALARY AND RAISES MORE THAN DO MOTHERS.
LIBERALS CARE ABOUT SALARY, FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, PAID VACATION AND SICK DAYS AND HAVING A FEMALE SUPERVISOR MORE THAN CONSERVATIVE WOMEN.
CONSERVATIVE WOMEN VALUE TENURE, A GOOD HEALTHCARE PACKAGE AND BONUSES MORE THAN LIBERAL WOMEN.
BOTH SIDES RATED WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY AND RAISES EQUALLY.
THE RESULTS WERE CALCULATED BY GIVING WOMEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN TWO JOBS WITH DIFFERENT BENEFITS.
OVERALL, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WAS SALARY NO MATTER THE WOMAN'S POLITICS.
I WILL SAVE MY TAKE AWAY FROM THIS REPORT.
WHAT IS YOURS?
WHAT IS THE POINT?
>> THE BIG PICTURE IS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICIES DO NOT WORK.
WOMEN HAVE DIFFERENT PREFERENCES WE ARE NOT ONE BIG BLOCK.
WHEN OUR CONGRESS MEN AND WOMAN ARE COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
>> WHICH LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE?
>> YES, AND EQUAL PAY LEGISLATION.
WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO IS HAVE POLICIES FOR PEOPLE TO MAXIMIZE THEIR CHOICES AND NOT PURSUE ONE ROUTE THAT IS GOING TO ONLY IMPACT ONE SEGMENT OF WOMEN.
>> YEAH, BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT WOMEN DID HAVE DIFFERENT PREFERENCES WHETHER BASED ON THE FACT THAT SOME WERE DEMOCRATIC AND SOME REPUBLICAN I DON'T KNOW.
THE ONE THAT INTRIGUED ME MOST WAS THAT CONSERVATIVE MOST WANTED TO HAVE THEIR HEALTHCARE.
>> I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THAT.
>> I KNEW IT.
>> TELL MY COLLEAGUES THAT.
TRYING TO REPEAL OBAMACARE.
>> HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF TIMES HAVE THERE BEEN BILLS INTRODUCED?
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THEY WANT IT FROM THE EMPLOYER NOT THE GOVERNMENT.
>> THEY DID NOT SAY WHERE THEY WANTED IT FROM.
THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE QUESTION.
>> THE ONE THING I WANTED TO SAY I FOUND THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY TO BE WHAT I THOUGHT THEY WERE THAT MOTHERS TENDED TO WANT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF SICK DAYS AND THE DAYS OFF AND WOMEN WHO DID NOT HAVE CHILDREN WERE LIKE I WILL TAKE THE SALARY.
THAT IS HOW I WOULD APPROACH IT AS WELL.
IT REENFORCED WHAT WE WOMEN KNEW.
AND HOPEFULLY WILL COME ACROSS TO LEGISLATORS AND BUSINESSES AND WORKPLACES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PACKAGE TO PICK AND CHOOSE.
YOU CANNOT HAVE EVERYTHING BUT PICK THREE THINGS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD LOVE A PACKAGE LIKE THAT.
>> AND YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE.
SO THINGS LIKE HEALTHCARE THERE IS A COST TO THAT AND YOUR EMPLOYER IS FOOTING THAT BILL.
SO IF YOU WANT MORE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE THEN THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
>> HOW DOES IT PERTAIN PARTICULARLY TO PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE WHICH DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PUSHING HARD FOR, FOR A LONGTIME HERE MANY AND REPUBLICANS ARE FRMLY AGAINST?
>> REPUBLICANS ARE FOR MORE CHOICE AND LETTING PEOPLE MAXIMIZE THEIR CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO PAID LEAVE.
SO THE ISSUE IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T NEED ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICIES.
YOU WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR EMPLOYER AND SETUP THE RELATIONSHIP BEST FOR YOU.
>> ONLY IN AMERICA COULD THAT BE SAID.
AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD YOU HAVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT ASKED TO PICK AND CHOOSE ABOUT WHETHER TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD YOU HAVE PAID HEALTHCARE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT ASKED TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHETHER TO HAVE HEALTHCARE.
AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT KIND OF MIXTURE AS LONG AS WE DIDN'T SAY ALL FAMILIES ARE ENTITLED TO CERTAIN THINGS AND THEN MAYBE YOU PICK AND CHOOSE, THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE.
AND WE ARE SACRIFICING OUR CHILDREN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WAY FOR A WOMAN TO STAY HOME WITHOUT LOSING PAY.
FAMILY MEDICAL AND LEAVE CARE IS UNPAID.
GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?
ONLY WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS CAN EVEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THAT IS SHAMEFUL.
>> AND NO ARGUMENT FROM ANY OF US ON ANY OF THAT.
AND WHAT THE STUDY DOES DEMONSTRATE HAVING BEEN SOMEONE THAT MANAGED BIG PAYROLLS, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD MY FRIEND.
EVERYTHING COSTS SOMETHING WHETHER IT COSTS THE GOVERNMENT OR A BUSINESS.
SO I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING RESPONSIVE TO WOMEN'S DIFFERENT NEEDS AND GIVING THEM CHOICES THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
>> AND WHEN I SAY PICK AND CHOOSE ONE EXAMPLE.
BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I GET HEALTHCARE THROUGH OUR EMPLOYER.
IF I CHOSE NOT TO GET HEALTHCARE THROUGH MY EMPLOYER BECAUSE I'M GETTING IT THROUGH MY HUSBAND FOR INSTANCE, JUST GIVE ME A SECOND IF I'M GET TO GO THROUGH MY HUSBAND THEN MY COMPANY SAVES MONEY BECAUSE I AM ONE LESS PERSON ON THE POLICY.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY I DON'T WANT YOUR HEALTHCARE AND ACTUALLY I USED TO WORK AT A COMPANY THAT DID GIVE YOU THAT OPTION FOR PEOPLE MARRIED AND GETTING IT THROUGH THEIR SPOUSES AND THEY SAID YOU CAN HAVE $5,000 IN PAY OR MORE DAYS OFF.
I CHOSE TO NOT TAKE THE HEALTHCARE AND TO TAKE THE MONEY.
AND THAT IS WHAT I MEAN BY PICKING AND CHOOSING.
I WANT WOMEN TO HAVE HEALTHCARE.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THAT.
>> LUCKY THAT BOTH OF YOU HAD HEALTHCARE.
>> AND JOBS.
>> WHY CAN'T I ADVOCATE FOR A SITUATION WHERE EVERYBODY DOES HAVE THE OPTION OF HEALTHCARE.
>> AND SOMEBODY ADVOCATES FOR EVERY WOMAN.
>> BUT THEN ELEANOR'S POINT IS WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TWO JOBS IN ONE FAMILY?
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ONE JOB WITH TWO WORKING PARENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH OUT OF WORK WHO SHOULD PAY THEN?
>> I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION THAN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A STUDY ABOUT WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY OUT OF A WORKPLACE AND I'M SAYING WHAT I WANT OUT OF A WORKPLACE IS THE ABILITY THE FLEXIBILITY TO PICK AND CHOOSE FROM A MENU OF OPTIONS BECAUSE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THEN THEY WOULD PICK HEALTHCARE INSTEAD OF THE MONEY.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 800,000 POUND WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WE ARE THE ONLY NATION IN THE WORLD OF DEVELOPED NATIONS THAT DOESN'T HAVE GUARANTEED PAID FAMILY LEAVE MONEY AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AND DOESN'T HAVE GOVERNMENT UNDER WRITTEN UNIFORM HEALTHCARE FOR ALL.
WHICH COSTS BUSINESSES IN THE LONG RUN FOR THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO UNDERWRITE THAT IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
>> THERE IS A POSSIBLE THIRD ALTERNATIVE HERE THAT IS NEVER FOLLOWED.
WHAT ABOUT SAYING TO MAKING IT A CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL, DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR EDUCATION AND CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO END UP IN A FAMILY WHERE NEITHER ONE CAN FIND WORK.
OR MUCH LESS LIKELY.
>> I SECOND THAT EMOTION.
>> BUT PROGRESSIVES ARE NOT DOING THAT.
>> THEY ARE.
EVERYONE I KNOW IS SAYING DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN UNTIL YOU GET YOUR EDUCATION AND CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
I BET YOU AROUND THIS TABLE THERE IS NO DISSENT ON THAT.
>> AS BEING CHILD FREE BY CHOICE I WILL TELL YOU CERTAINLY -- >> CHILDREN UNTIL YOU ARE ONE OF US THEN.
>> AND 20% OF AMERICANS, BY THE WAY.
>> AND WE NEED A ECONOMY WHERE PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE THE DIFFERENT JOBS AND COMPETE AND THAT THE PRESIDENT'S ECONOMICS POLICIES ARE KILLING THE POOREST AMONGST US.
>> THAT IS ANOTHER 10-MINUTE DEBATE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES HELP FOR VICTIMS OF SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING.
IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS CATHOLIC CHARITIES IMMIGRATION SERVICES IS PROVIDING CRISIS SERVICES.
IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES TO HELP IDENTIFY THESE VICTIMS.
>> MANY TIMES THESE INDIVIDUALS DO NOT REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM THEY DO NOT REALIZE THAT IT'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
CERTAINLY THEY REALIZE IT IS A BAD SITUATION BUT NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY REALIZE THEY HAVE RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY COULD BE STEPPING OUT AGAINST IT AND SOMEONE WOULD BE THERE TO HELP THEM.
>> CATHOLIC CHARITIES IMMIGRATION SERVICES HELPS VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING REINTEGRATE INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY AFTER THEY ARE FREED FROM CAPTIVITY.
CCIS' CLIENTS EITHER COME TO THE U.S.
VOLUNTARILY SPEAKING EMPLOYMENT OR CONSENTED TO BE SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY.
ONCE HERE THEY ENDED UP IN SITUATIONS FROM WHICH THEY COULD NOT ESCAPE.
THE OVERWHELMING IMAGE I IT OF THEM COME FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.
HALF ARE MEN TRAFFICKED FOR SLAVE OR UNPAID FORCED LABOR IN PLACES SUCH AS RESTAURANTS.
THE OTHER HALF ARE YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS TRAFFICKED FOR SEX SLAVERY.
REGAN STANFORD THE VICTIM SERVICES COORDINATOR SAYS SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING DO NOT NEED TO BE RESCUED BUT GUIDED.
>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS TEACHING THEM THEIR RIGHTS AND SHOWING THEM WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THEY THINK THE BEST PATH FOR THEM IS.
>> IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, CCIS HAS WORKED WITH 18 TRAFFICKING CLIENTS UP FROM THE THREE CLIENTS IN THE PRIOR FOUR YEARS.
STANFORD SAYS IDENTIFYING VICTIMS IS NOT EASY AND REQUIRES PRO-ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONSISM WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF VICTIMS THAT ARE NOT BEING FOUND.
FEW SELF REPORT.
WE HAVE HAD A FEW COME AND THEY WILL REPORT NOT THAT THEY ARE A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING BUT THEY HAD READ OR SEEN SOMETHING AND STARTED TO THINK THEY HAD RIGHTS.
>> TRAFFICKED INDIVIDUALS ARE INELIGIBLE TO GAIN AMNESTY.
CCIS ASSISTS CLIENTS WITH OBTAINING VISA.
>> THE T VISA IS THE MOST BENEFICIAL FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IT IS TEMPORARY AND ALLOWS THEM TO APPLY FOR LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE AFTER THREE YEARS AND ALLOWS THEM TO IMMIGRATE SO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY AND THE T VISA MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS AND ANY BENEFIT THAT A REF PGY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR.
>> CCIS IS THE SOLE ARKANSAS PROVIDER CONTACT FOR THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE HELPING CLIENTS FIND SAFETY AND SHELTER.
THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBLE BECAUSE THE VICTIMS' NEEDS ARE VARIED DEPENDING 0 AND THE PERSON.
>> PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND DIFFERENT NEEDS.
SOME MAY HAVE DRUG ISSUES AND SOME MAY NEED TO BE IN A SECURED FACILITY.
SOME MAY SOURCE BETTER IN A GROUP HOME AND WE FOCUS JUST ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING WE MISS THE BOAT TRYING TO LUMP THEM INTO ONE CATEGORY AND ACT LIKE THEY ARE ONE PERSON WITH ONE NEED.
>> SAM, HOW IS IT THAT PEOPLE COULD BE TRAFFICKED AND NOT KNOW THEY ARE BEING TRAFFICKED?
MEN IN RESTAURANTS SO THEY SNEAK ACROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY WITH WHAT THEY CALL A COYOTE GUIDE, AND THEN THEY ARE GIVEN OVER TO A RESTAURANT OWNER WHO GIVES THEM BARE BONES HOUSING AND MAKE THEM WORK 24/7 AND NEVER PAY THEM AND THEY DON'T AKNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PICTURE?
>> I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE SITUATION THAT YOU DESCRIBE BUT I CAN SPEAK WITH GREAT AUTHORITY ON WHAT HAPPENS TO GIRLS.
AND YOUNG WOMEN WHICH IS SEXUAL TRAFFICKING.
MY EXAMPLE I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW BEFOREMENT I CAME FROM A FAMILY OF MULTIGENERATIONAL SEXUAL ABUSE TO ME IT WAS A NORMAL FACT.
I RAN AWAY FROM HOME TO ESCAPE THAT AND WAS SUCKED INTO A TRAFFICKING SITUATION WHEN I GOT OFF THE BUS AT PORT AUTHORITY IN NEW YORKMENT AND LIKE MOST SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS AND MOST TRAFFICKED VICTIMS THE MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF THIS TRAUMA IS SHAME.
AND SELF BLAME.
AND SO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED TO YOU WHICH CAUSES THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE TO BE UNDER REPORTED.
WHAT I FIND ENCOURAGING -- >> DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE BEING TRAFFICKED?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I ONLY FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AFTER 20 YEARS OF THERAPY AND BECOMING ACTIVE AND VOCAL OUT THERE AND PEOPLE SAYING SO YOU WERE PICKED OFF A BUS AND PUT IN A LOCKED HOTEL ROOM AND MAN AFTER MAN AFTER MAN AFTER MAN WAS BROUGHT INTO YOUR LOCKED HOTEL ROOM AND YOU WERE TRAFFICKED.
AND EVEN MY OWNER WOULD SAY TO ME, HE NEVER TOUCHED ME BUT HE WOULD SAY, ANNETTE, ANNETTE YOU ARE MY MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION.
YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN ANYTHING ELSE I OWN.
BUT I'M 16, 17 YEARS OLD.
HOW DO I REGISTER ALL THAT?
I REGISTER IT BY BLAMING MYSELF THAT SOMEHOW I PUT MYSELF IN THE SITUATION.
WHEN HE WAS IN A KNIFE FLIGHT BLEEDING ON HIS BED AND I ESCAPED AND LIVED HOMELESS ON THE STREET IN NEW YORK CITY UNTIL SOMEBODY TOOK ME IN AND I FIGURED HOW TO GET BACK HOME AGAIN.
WHATEVER THE TRAUMA I WAS EXPERIENCING AT HOME THE STREETS OF NEW YORK WAS WORSE.
NEVER ONCE DID I THINK I WAS PROSTITUTED I BLAMED MYSELF.
THAT IS THE UNDERLINED REASON FOR THE RATE OF UNDER REPORTING THAT HAPPENS.
BUT WHAT I FIND ENCOURAGING ABOUT THIS STORY IS THEY ARE APPROACHING IT FROM A TRAINING AND HEALING STANDPOINT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT IN A PREVIOUS SHOW ABOUT A WOMAN WHO TALKED ABOUT HER BEING SEXUALLY TRAFFICKED IN THE UNITED STATES AND HOW LONG IT TOOK HER TO HEAL.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS.
IT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA A HUMAN BEING CAN GO THROUGH.
SO I FIND IT ENCOURAGING WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND I HEARD MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A PERPETRATOR SIDE THAT IS WILDLY UNDER TOUCHED.
TYPICALLY PEOPLE INCARCERATED FOR THE CRIME ARE THE VICTIMS.
THE PROSTITUTES.
SO I FIND THIS ENCOURAGING AND THIS IS A BIG, BIG PROBLEM THAT HAS TO BE APPROACHED IN OTHER DEPENDIONS.
>> AND ANOTHER THING THAT REGAN STANFORD MENTIONED IS THEY WENT FROM FOUR TO 18 VICTIMS IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT TERMINOLOGY I LIKE SURVIVORS BETTER.
IN A COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THE POLICE STARTED INSTITUTING MORE RAIDS AND LOOKING FOR IT.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO HERE?
>> IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I'M GLAD WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING IT ON THE SHOW.
I COME FROM THE MIDWEST AND THINK OF THE TRUCK STOPS AND THIS WAS HAPPENING 20 MILES FROM MY HOUSE.
IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON THE 95 CORRIDOR IT IS AMAZING.
AND I HOPE THAT THE POLICE GET MORE INVOLVED.
>> THIS CAN HAPPEN TO AN AMERICAN IMAGINE IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICANS.
>> OR ANY NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS.
>> THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE COMING FROM A SITUATION WHICH THEY REGARD AS MUCH WORSE.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE SELF BLAME THAT YOU EXPERIENCED AS AN AMERICAN.
I THINK THEY FIND OUT THEY THINK THEY ARE GETTING A JOB THEY ARE IN A RESTAURANT AND THINK THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COME TO AMERICA AND OVER TIME THEY FIND THEY HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED.
THEY ARE TRUE VICTIMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IN THE WORST WAY.
HAD NO WAY OF DISCOVERING THEIR RIGHTS.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU.
ANYONE THAT GOES THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE HAS SHAME AND ENORMOUS SELF BLAME BUT YOU ARE RIGHT IT'S WORSE FOR SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH MUCH WORSE.
>> 15 SECONDS FOR THE SOLUTION.
>> HONESTLY HAPPEN TO LET SAM TALK I DID NOT KNOW THAT ABOUT YOU.
I AM ABOUT TO START CRYING.
LET'S BE DONE WITH THE SHOW.
>> THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
[♪♪♪] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
[♪♪♪]
