What is an Abolitionist?
A person who advocates or supports the abolition (or end) of slavery and the slave trade world-wide.
Abolitionism was a movement in western Europe and the Americas to end the slave trade and emancipate slaves. The slave system aroused little protest until the 18th century, when rationalist thinkers of the Enlightenment criticized it for violating the rights of man, and Quaker and other evangelical religious groups condemned it as un-Christian. Though antislavery sentiments were widespread by the late 18th century, they had little immediate effect on the centers of slavery: the West Indies, South America, and the Southern United States. Pennsylvania passed An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in 1780. Britain banned the importation of African slaves in its colonies in 1807, and the United States followed in 1808. The British West Indies abolished slavery in 1827 and the French colonies abolished it 15 years later.
FA History
Florida Abolitionist (FA) is a non governmental organization established to campaign against modern day slavery. FA is a sister organization of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking (FCAHT). This organization was created as a result of encouragement by Anna Rodriguez, the founder and president of FCAHT. FA’s approach is a focused strategy to educate, equip, and empower the faith community. Tomas J. Lares, the founder and president of FA is passionate about ending modern day slavery. As a child he was captivated by the life of Harriet Tubman. Lares believes that a 21st century abolitionist revival movement has begun. After meeting Anna Rodriguez several years ago he realized that the monstrous crime of human trafficking was not only happening in Thailand and Cambodia but right here in ‘our backyard’.
Early in 2009, Tomas met with a group of modern day abolitionist who became FA’s steering committee. Together they came up with the vision, mission, and objectives of Florida Abolitionist. Just like individuals of compassion that stood against slavery more than 150 years ago, the time has come once again to shout, “NOT ON MY WATCH!”
Vision
To End Modern-Day Slavery
FA’s Mission
To prevent and combat MODERN – DAY SLAVERY by mobilizing prayer, awareness, outreach, and facilitating victim services.
