Dottie Laster Goes to Washington
Dottie's notes on her speech at a human rights event held in Rayburn House Office Building in April 2019.
Ruminating About the Speech
So today was my speech (Note: the speech took place in April 2019). The event was held in the Rayburn House Office Building. It is located by the Capitol and near the Supreme Court building which made me feel incredibly special!
This morning I searched google for a printer near me. The map took me across the street to an office building. I asked the security guard if he knew where E-Discovery Printers was located. He asked picking up or printing? I said printing! He talked into his radio and then he walked me to the elevator and pushed C (not B for basement).
He said this will take you down. Down? I wondered and the thought of entering subterranean levels was beyond frightening for some reason. Down?
I nervously walked into the elevator wondering what was going on, since I was in DC. I kept thinking dark thoughts and that I may have fallen into a James Bond type spy print company as the elevator went past B (basement), and going even further down on to C. I gulped. The doors opened into a white maze with no visible signs but many many doors. I was reminded of the old Get Smart TV series. I started walking down the corridor and happened upon a small sign about the size of a name tag that said E-Discovery Printing.
I opened the door and there were indeed lots and lots of printers, more like a lab than a walk-in print shop. A voice called out “Come on in!!! I thought, “Well, I have been in danger before, surely I won't lose my life because I needed to print my speech?”
I entered the shop, and this jovial man came out from somewhere and I told him I need my speech printed. He said, "No problem what size paper?" I thought, hmmmm, I no longer think I am going to die or disappear now, so I am feeling pretty confident, soooo since I am a Texan, and my near sight is getting fuzzier with each passing birthday, how about REALLY BIG! He said, OK!!! So, you will see in the photo below that I have a poor man's teleprompter sized printed speech. I did have the largest notes of all the speakers, and thanks to this quirky but wonderful print shop I could read every word without having to look down. In fact, I think the whole audience may have been able to read it too.
A big thank you to my brother Chris Melton for the photos. It was the first time he had been able to attend one of my speeches. He is a pilot, so as that title implies, he is most often somewhere else. I so enjoyed having him there.
Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) hosted the event – Stopping Human Trafficking in the Americas,
(I was a founding board member of YHRI – yes, I am bragging) YHRI's mission is to make human rights a global reality by educating youth to educate others about their human rights.
There was a full room of people from various places and professions who are all interested in stopping human trafficking. It was an event full of elegance, prestige, importance, and substance.
I was treated with much dignity and respect, which of course I received on behalf of all those I have served. I was able to speak about real events, people, cases, successes, barriers, and positive outcomes. I told of cases where I used the YHRI videos to help trafficked victims understand their rights, which was a part of restoring their freedom. I was able to draw a road map for those who wanted to take the journey to help others or stop traffickers. It was one of the best moments in my career and is one of the most memorable events of my life.
It was not lost on me that this event was held in a building named for one Texas' most notable politicians, Sam Rayburn. From now on when I drive on the interstate freeways, think of NASA, or consider the benefits of child labor laws in Texas, I will give a silent nod to Mr. Rayburn. The Rayburn House Office Building is also (In true Texas style) the largest of the congressional buildings. Yes, we know everything Texas IS bigger, especially if a Texan has any say in the matter.
I was so surprised today and a bit giddy like a star struck kid, to meet Glen Campbell's son, Travis, and his wife, Trudy. I also met Micky Rooney's daughter, Kellie Ann Rooney, and Casey Kasim's daughter Kerrie Kasim. They are all part of the group Kasim Cares. You may have seen news and true TV type films about how they were isolated from their famous parents under very bitter and heart-breaking circumstances. They have joined together and found actual solutions to this problem.
I was also fortunate to meet the Kenya Davis, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and co-chair of the District of Columbia human trafficking task force. She is one of us! I predict we will collaborate in the future.
I also met my newest hero, Rachel Wagley, Legislative Director for Representative Ann Wagner's office (Missouri). Rachel Wagley helped to draft the legislation that led to the demise of Backpage.com and other comparable sites. The legislation is referred to as FOSTA SESTA. Google it, the law also increases victims’ ability to seek civil suits against these sites. When you have time, please call her office, and thank them. If you have had a family member groomed or trafficked, PLEASE call, and tell them about what this legislation means to you, and check into any civil suits that this legislation might have opened for families. The number is (202) 225-1621 (feel free to tell them I gave you their number).
Their office was faced with huge costs in the tens of millions of dollars spent to stop these commercialized sex efforts. They even get calls from buyers of commercial sex threatening them and stating their displeasure with being unable to buy sex from their favorite sites anymore. However, as any skilled staff does, they ask these guys for their phone numbers and addresses, which some of the morons give and then they say, thank you for your address, you know buying sex is illegal right? LOL!!!
My Dear Friend Mary Shuttleworth
My good friend and colleague Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, the founder of Youth for Human Rights International, invited me to the event. I have known her for over 16 years. She is a teacher, and children are her passion. She is the only person I have met in this field who can outwork me. She is a powerhouse of global energy. Her group has developed videos and materials that explain that every person in the world has thirty human rights that may not be taken away. Do you know yours??
My favs are #1 everyone is born free and equal, #4 no slavery, nobody has any right to make us a slave, we have no right to have a slave and #29 Responsibility to other people and should protect their life and freedom.
If you want to learn more see YouthForHumanRights.org. Your thirty human rights guaranteed by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights are there. Please study them and teach others their human rights.
Tomorrow, I will play tourist in the morning and then fly home in the evening.
Writing for Dottie gives me an opportunity to give back and fight back. She is so fearless it astounds me.