Saturday event will focus on trafficking

Java Rocks, the coffee shop in the Blue Cow building, is hosting an evening dedicated to raising awareness of and work toward ending child trafficking.

Two local groups — Flathead Abolitionist Movement and Orphans Lifeline of Hope — are hosting the Silence is Shameful event with support from national organizations International Justice Mission, Love146, Not For Sale and Mercy Ministries.

The free event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6.

The event includes a screening of “The Candy Shop,” a 30-minute film about child sex trafficking, and performances by local artists Luke Dowler and Mike Murray.

“The Candy Shop” was made for a campaign against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by Street GRACE and Whitestone Motion Pictures.

The film originally was created as a parable about child trafficking in Atlanta, but the problem goes far beyond one Georgia city.

Additional information about the film is available at stopthecandyshop.com.

Dowler will perform “Silence is Shameful,” his song decrying child exploitation and the 1.2 million children reportedly trafficked each year.

The song is available on iTunes; 70 percent of sales will be donated to International Justice Mission. For additional information, visit lukedowler.com.

Murray, who worked with impoverished people around the world with Youth With A Mission, often sings about social justice issues including trafficking, populations ravaged by AIDS and poverty. In addition to singing, he will speak about missions he has been on and problems he has witnessed.

Murray’s music is available at mikemurraytunes.com.

A raffle will begin at 10 p.m., with several items available to win, including artwork, jewelry, T-shirts and CDs. The raffle will last until 2 a.m., while open mic night is happening at the coffee shop.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and are available at Java Rocks through the week.

Java Rocks also will have a table set up selling Destiny Rescue jewelry, which is made by girls and young women from Thailand, Cambodia, Mozambique and India who have been rescued from prostitution and abuse.

The jewelry will be for sale at the coffee shop throughout the week.

For additional information, call Windie Fischer at 844-0377 or Java Rocks at 260-4027.