A documentary that will be shown at Scott Community College examines human trafficking in Iowa.
“Gridshock: A Film About Sex Trafficking in Iowa,” will be be shown 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Scott Community College Welcome Center, Student Life Center, Room 2300, 500 Belmont Road, Bettendorf. Parking is in Lot D on the main campus.
The screening is sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the North Central Iowa Coalition Against Human Trafficking, highlighting a collaborative effort to combat this critical issue. For more information, visit here.
The movie is designed for those ages 16 and older, and aims to raise awareness about human trafficking. The audience can ask questions after the screening.
Melody Stone, human-trafficking expert who will present “Gridshock,” discussed the powerful documentary, with Our Quad Cities News.
The film, she said will help people to identify human trafficking, and to learn to recognize signs and understand the realities surrounding the crime; understand the crisis about why human trafficking is considered the fastest-growing crime globally; how to separate fact from fiction with evidence-based information; gain insight about protecting yourself and others from sextortion and other trafficking forms; and explore ways to create a safe, more informed community.
“While many people think this is only a problem in other countries or large cities that is not the case,” said filmmaker Vanessa McNeal, herself a survivor of sexual violence. “These atrocities are occurring every day in our own back yards.”