The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

Advertisement
The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

La Voz ad
De Anza budget cuts and DASG’s role in supporting the school
FHDA community shares concerns about college safety

FHDA community shares concerns about college safety

June 25, 2023

Incoming chancellor announces plans for the district

Incoming chancellor announces plans for the district

June 10, 2023

District board overturns Measure G megaprojects and establishes timeline for spending decisions

District board overturns Measure G megaprojects and establishes timeline for spending decisions

June 9, 2023

View All
ISP’s first in-person year-end celebration after pandemic
ESL students share talents at spring celebration

ESL students share talents at spring celebration

June 28, 2023

Graduates get creative for ‘grad cap decorating’

Graduates get creative for ‘grad cap decorating’

June 27, 2023

Recap of super bloom season: Preserve our floral splendor

Recap of super bloom season: Preserve our floral splendor

June 23, 2023

View All
Ghost students create rigged system for community colleges
Rising costs of textbooks weigh students down

Rising costs of textbooks weigh students down

June 12, 2023

Apple Airtag threatens privacy

Apple Airtag threatens privacy

June 4, 2023

Lack of in-person classes hurts student education

Lack of in-person classes hurts student education

June 4, 2023

View All
‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’: Extraordinary box office success
Netflix’s new hit series ‘XO, Kitty’ shines with cultural diversity

Netflix’s new hit series ‘XO, Kitty’ shines with cultural diversity

June 16, 2023

DA Voices: What project are you working on?

DA Voices: What project are you working on?

June 16, 2023

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: Marvel’s best movie since ‘Endgame’?

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: Marvel’s best movie since ‘Endgame’?

May 23, 2023

View All

Sex Trafficking Survivor Speaks Out

Minh Dang grew up in San Jose where she was sexually abused at the age of two and sold as a child into sex slavery at ten by her parents.

During the day, she acted out the life of a regular kid, excelling in school and as an athlete on the soccer field, from elementary school through high school.

At night she was pimped out by her parents and forced to sleep and do sexual favors for men and her own father.

A victim of sex trafficking, she gave a speech about the Campaign Against Human Trafficking on Tuesday May 14, at De Anza College.

Story continues below advertisement

“For the first two years I was going to college, I was still enslaved,” Dang said. “I was still being sold by my parents. Then they payed my final bill for college.”

Besides bringing attention to the physical trauma that falls upon human sex trafficking victims, Dang also adressed the emotional poverty that victims endure.

Dang said she believed that her parents were hurt and traumatized as children in their homes in Vietnam, and they used the abuse towards her brother and herself as an outlet for their trauma.

“Using another
human being to make themselves feel better, that’s what my parents did to me,” Dang said.

In spite of her trying experiences, Dang has chosen to pursue a life of freedom.

Today she spends her time as a graduate student studying social work at UC Berkeley and as an activist speaking at different venues about human sex trafficking.

Dang was awarded the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Public Service Award in 2011.

The White House honored Dang as one of 15 Asian American and Pacific Islanders who were “Champions of Change” on May 6 because she helped the U.S. Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking.

Rowena Tomaneng, associate vice president of instruction, said she thought this event was important for De Anza students.

“It’s a really important issue to the De Anza community, in order for students not only to learn about it, but to let them get involved,” said Tomameng.

De Anza student Linh Ton, 21, said, “I really feel sorry for her, and she also made me realize that sex trafficking still happens in this society.”

To learn more about human sex trafficking, and Dang’s journey, follow her blog at http://dontsellbodies.org/tagged/Minh Dang or her Twitter account at @mihnspeakstruth

1
View Comments (1)
More to Discover

Comments (1)

La Voz Weekly intends this area to be used to foster healthy, thought-provoking discussion. Comments should be respectful and constructive. We do not permit the use of profanity, foul language, personal attacks or language that might be interpreted as defamatory. La Voz does not allow anonymous comments, and requires a valid name and email address. The email address will not be displayed but will be used to confirm your comment.
All La Voz News Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest