Belmont students joined a group of more than 70 people who spent the morning on Saturday, October 15 “walking for freedom” as part of Nashville’s first A21 global walk event. Beginning on the quad of Lipscomb University, Belmont students joined with members of the Nashville community and students from Lipscomb to walk in silence down Belmont Blvd, to the Bell Tower and back. The event ended with a testimony from a trafficking survivor and a celebration of the campaign’s progress.
The first of its kind in Nashville, the A21 Walk for Freedom is in its third year globally and exists to fight against and raise awareness for modern-day slavery and human trafficking. All participants wore black clothing and tape over their mouths to symbolize the silenced voices of those who have lost their freedom.
Belmont’s International Justice Missions Chapter President Jacob Magnuson said the event provides opportunities for students to become educated on what is happening in their world. “Events like this are necessary to give a voice to the voiceless,” Magnuson said. “We are protected in our day to day lives from the reality of the world–events like this show us all what is going on outside our lives. We hope to empower hearts to care about this cause and breed a new generation of people that will end modern day slavery.”
Magnuson went on to say that students, specifically, have the ability to get involved and create change in a powerful way. “Students have passion and energy like no one else,” he said. “They have less distractions and daily concerns, and at the same time, they have the maturity and connections to get things done. They can be changed and they can change. Their hearts can be moved and they can move others, which allows everyone to come together from all backgrounds for the same important cause. Together, we will end modern-day slavery.”
Students who are interested in learning more about Belmont’s IJM chapter can visit the organization on Facebook, sign up for group emails or join the leadership team’s weekly prayer meetings every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Inman 240.
*Above photo provided by Anna Connoe*
ministries that host college groups for alternative break trips. In Memphis, student participants hosted a community fair and experienced the city’s history as they visited the Civil Rights Museum. At Birmingham’s Rush Center, a fourth group worked in an urban garden, painted homes for low-income families and worked at an after-school program. The final group spent time in Atlanta where they volunteered for a tutoring program and spent time at a homeless outreach center, among other things.
