Karla Jacinto, a survivor of human trafficking whose story was recently shared by Alabama Sen. Katie Britt in the Republican response to the State of the Union address, has spoken out against the use of her story for political gain. Jacinto, who was trafficked before President Joe Biden’s presidency, criticized politicians for exploiting her harrowing experience for their own image and photo opportunities.
In a statement, Jacinto expressed her disappointment at the lack of empathy shown by politicians towards the issue of human trafficking. She highlighted the importance of legislators having empathy towards victims of trafficking, pointing out that millions of girls and boys are trafficked every day.
Jacinto clarified some details of her trafficking experience, stating that she was not trafficked by Mexican drug cartels as suggested by Sen. Britt. Instead, she revealed that she was trafficked by a pimp who operated within a family that forced vulnerable girls into prostitution.
Regarding her meeting with Sen. Britt, Jacinto clarified that it took place at an event at the southern border with other officials and activists, rather than a one-on-one conversation as described by the senator. Despite Jacinto’s clarification, Britt’s communications director defended the accuracy of the story shared, maintaining that it was 100% correct.
When asked about the timing of the trafficking incident, Sen. Britt denied implying that it occurred during President Biden’s time in office and criticized his border policies. However, the senator’s office did not confirm or deny that the story shared was indeed Jacinto’s, but insisted that it was accurate.
This controversy highlights the delicate nature of using survivors’ stories for political purposes and serves as a reminder of the importance of treating victims of human trafficking with empathy and respect.
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