by Dennis Dalman
The St. Cloud area has long been identified as a “training hub” for the horrendous criminal sex-trafficking that is increasing constantly in Minnesota and throughout the world.
Local people are outraged about it and want to bring awareness to those heinous crimes in order to put an end to the abuse and violence. Many of those local people have organized a fundraising event called “Walk Together: Uniting Against Sexual Violence.” All of the proceeds will go to the St. Cloud-based Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center. Last year, the same kind of walk raised almost $31,000 for the CMSAC.
The walk will begin on the morning of Saturday, April 30 in front of Shear Dynamics Beauty Salon, located at 65 Third St. NE in Waite Park. Registration there will begin at 8:30 a.m. The annual 5k walk will begin at 9 a.m. and end at about 10:30 a.m. in front of Shear Dynamics. Walkers will go along Division Street past Crossroads shopping mall, then return to Shear Dynamics where there will be a roster of speakers featured from 10:30 a.m. to noon. There will also be snacks, beverages and music by singer Donny Brang.
People can register in advance online at walktogethermn.org. Donations by those who cannot make the walk can also be made on that website, and companies can register on it for corporate sponsorships.
Those who register by April 4 will be charged $30 per walker (children under 10 can walk free). After April 4, the cost will be $35. Teams of 20 or more walkers are eligible for $500 in gifts provided by the Bad Habit Brewing Company of St. Joseph.
Linda Wander, owner of Shear Dynamics, is the founder of “Walk Together: Uniting Against Sexual Violence.”
Sexual-trafficking is, in fact, “paid rape,” Wander said. “Imagine if that was happening to your son or daughter.”
The solution, she said, is to eliminate the demand for such crimes through profound attitudinal changes throughout society, including that often dismissive/permissive attitude that “boys will be boys.”
A combination of an increased awareness of the crime, information about how it happens and deep, widespread attitudinal changes are the best ways to begin to stop it, Warner said.
