City And Federal Authorities Warn State Of Economy Could Be Making Communities Vulnerable To Forced Labor, Trafficking

Survivors of Infamous El Monte Sweatshop Slavery Case Break Their Silence to Educate Public and Commemorate the 15-year Anniversary of Their Freedom

Who:
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti
Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas
LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck
Lt. Carlos Velez- LAPD Metropolitan Task Force on Human Trafficking
Asst. Special Agent in Charge Jorge Guzman- I.C.E.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Doug Price- F.B.I.
Thai Community Development Center
Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking
Survivors of the infamous El Monte sweatshop slavery case
Producers of Fabric, nation’s first play about the survivors of El Monte
           
What:
Press conference addressing forced labor and sweatshop activity as well as commemorating the 15-year anniversary of the infamous El Monte sweatshop slavery case (survivors to speak)

When:
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:45 a.m. SHARP

Where:
Los Angeles City Hall, South lawn steps (facing 1st street)
200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember Tony Cardenas, Council President Eric Garcetti, and Chief of Police Charlie Beck will join local and federal authorities to address forced labor and sweatshop activity. Officials warn the state of the economy could be making some communities more vulnerable to human trafficking crimes. The warning also comes on the heels of the 15-year anniversary of the infamous El Monte sweatshop slavery case which exposed the horrific conditions under which over 70 Thai laborers were found enslaved, forced to work 18 hours a day, and sleep on floor mattresses. El Monte survivors will break their silence to help educate the public on how to identify victims. They will also be holding giant, colorful quilts made by their own hands. The writer, director and producers of Fabric, the nation’s first play about the survivors of El Monte, will also be present. VISUALS: Survivors of El Monte holding up giant/colorful hand-made quilts, LAPD uniformed officers, federal authorities, flags, city officials, photographs of forced labor survivors, community members.