Vanguard University event raises awareness about and prayers for victims of human trafficking

Vanguard University students, officials and community members gathered in Costa Mesa Thursday morning to pray together and raise awareness about human trafficking.

The crowd of nearly 400 packed Newport Mesa Church to pray for survivors of labor and sex trafficking and for the violence to come to an end.

The Pray for Freedom event, hosted by Vanguard’s Global Center for Women and Justice in partnership with Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking and KWVE radio, is held annually in recognition of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Sandra Morgan, director of Vanguard University’s Global Center for Women and Justice, speaks at the conclusion of the annual Pray for Freedom event on Thursday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Vanguard also will host a Justice Matters Conference Sunday morning and an event called Slam Demand next Thursday to educate university athletes about modern-day slavery.

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