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Teacher uses Underground RR route to spotlight human trafficking crimes
by Lisa McDonald · News · June 23, 2016
A high school history teacher passed through West Branch Sunday while walking an Underground Railroad route to raise awareness of human trafficking.
Barry Jurgensen, of Arlington, Neb., talked to the West Branch Friends Church congregation about why he wants to raise awareness of human trafficking.
“Someone has to speak for these innocent children who are subjected to slavery,” Jurgensen said.
He said a lot of people aren’t aware of the scope of human trafficking in America.
Jurgensen believes he can “spark people to fight human trafficking” by paralleling the cause with Underground Railroad history.
He said human trafficking prevention groups are successful due to networking, just like the Underground Railroad.
“It’s truly what the Underground Railroad was all about: using a network of people to fight an injustice,” Jurgensen said.
Jurgensen chose his 500-mile route from Nebraska City to Chicago based on the path taken by two escaped slaves, Eliza Grayson and Celia. He discovered these women’s story when researching the Underground Railroad with his Arlington (Neb.) High School honors history class.
He started his walk June 1 and estimates finishing in 30 days.
Jurgensen hopes to raise $50 per mile to donate to the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, an international nonprofit that combats human trafficking.
Jurgensen has been joined by various people throughout the walk, and a constant companion is former student Austin Harms.
Harms graduated high school in May and initially said he saw the walk as good training for the U.S. Marines.
Yet, he said, studying the Underground Railroad in class led him to understand the impact human trafficking has on society today.
Jurgensen was joined by aunt Marlys Venenga and cousins Morgan, Faith and Aaron Venenga for the West Branch portion of the walk. They received a tour of the West Branch historic core zone by Friends Church lifelong member Ed English after the morning worship.
Jurgensen said Harms and he have not been rained on so far.
“It’s just been really hot,” he said.
Jurgensen said they are trying to average 17 miles a day.
Donations can be made on Jurgensen’s GoFundMe page, “Walk Forever Free,” or the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives site, www.fdfi.org.
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