HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2018-4664, by Representative Hudgins

WHEREAS, 2018 marks the twenty-third anniversary of the senseless murders of three Filipina-Americans, Susana Remerata Blackwell, a mail order bride, victim of domestic violence and forced servitude, and her two friends Phoebe Dizon, and Veronica Laureta inside the King County Courthouse; and

WHEREAS, In 2000 Anastasia Solovieva-King from Kyrgyzstan was murdered by her husband in Washington state in a separate incident of human trafficking that resulted in domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, The tragic deaths of these women brought widespread national media attention that elevated knowledge about the insidious nature of forced servitude, fraud and coercion and highlighted the fact that forced servitude is a form of human trafficking that often ends in violence; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, the University of Washington Women's Center under the leadership of Dr. Sutapa Basu began convening a conference on human trafficking in Washington State and, in 2002, led the efforts in creating the nation's first state task force against the trafficking of persons, and in 2003 in creating the crime of trafficking on state level, the first of its kind in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Early awareness of the problems around trafficking in Washington state was brought to light due to the tireless efforts under the leadership of Emma Catague and former State Representative Velma Veloria, along with organizations working with the immigrants, refugees and communities of color; and

WHEREAS, In 2011 President Obama proclaimed January "National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month," and in recognition that trafficking of persons is now the world's second-largest and fastest-growing underground economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives recognize those people and organizations that fight daily against the scourge of human trafficking, and encourage others to observe the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month with appropriate ceremonies and activities to combat human trafficking.

 

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

Resolution 4664 adopted by the House of Representatives

January 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

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Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk