TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Many people think slavery in America ended in 1865, but thousands of people are still working in this country against their will today.
That's why some local students were making their voices heard on the issue of modern slavery.
Students at Florida State University were out on Landis Green Tuesday afternoon, making sure everyone on their campus knows about and is fighting back against modern slavery.
Modern slavery refers to human trafficking, where people are recruited or abducted and forced into labor or sex against their will.
According to info from the U.S. Department of State, between 14,500 to 17,500 are trafficked into the U.S. each year, but many experts believe the number may be even higher, because so many crimes go undiscovered and unreported.
That's why students from FSU's on-campus organization, International Justice Mission, were set up on Landis Green on Tuesday.
They encouraged other students to sign an online petition, asking President Donald Trump and Congress to make fighting modern slavery a priority.
Students say the goal is to get at least 100,000 people nationwide to sign this petition.
