This episode features the CPAC in DC 2024 panel discussion with Tim Ballard and Eduardo Verastegui moderated by Nancy Ross on the horrors of human trafficking.
Ballard and the work he did as a Homeland Security Agent to rescue victims of child sex trafficking was the inspiration behind the film, The Sound of Freedom. The movie declared, “God’s children are not for sale.”
Verastegui, producer of the film, faced rejection for five years over this film until Angel Studios picked it up and gave a platform to the movie’s message. The film made waves last summer when it debuted for exposing the ugly reality of human trafficking. Americans flocked to theaters to support the film and its message, but the movie still met its critics from the media and the $150 billion dollar industry that is human trafficking.
“The experts, the professionals, they told us, ‘This movie’s not going to work. Nobody will see a movie about child trafficking.’ Five years…rejected,” said Verastegui. “They didn’t believe in the movie, but you know who believed in the movie? The people. And the people said, ‘Enough is enough. God’s children are not for sale.’”
The movie was a crucial cooperation between American and Mexican filmmakers whose home countries are the largest consumer of trafficking and the largest supplier of trafficking, respectively.
As Ballard explained, “The Sound of Freedom would have forced a conversation [the Left] didn’t want to have, especially on the border, where tens of thousands of kids have disappeared into the belly of the United States, which is the number one consumer of child rape videos in the world. So, this is not the place you want to be [as] a child unaccompanied in our country, and they’re given no respect, no regard.”
The Sound of Freedom prompted Verastegui, seeing his country on the brink of disaster, to run for President of Mexico. He believes cooperation between the governments of United States and Mexico is necessary to end the tragedy of human trafficking and promises to take action and pursue a productive relationship with the United States if he assumes office.
He stated, “Through bilateral efforts we can make again Mexico and the United States great together.”
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