Parents and advocates in one East Oakland, California, neighborhood have stepped up their activism in response to pimps targeting their middle school-aged daughters.

Last year, All Things Considered and Youth Radio collaborated on an investigative series from young people's point of view that revealed what it's like being trafficked and also how police efforts to combat the problem often criminalize young women.

Nhuanh Ly is the program coordinator for Banteay Srei — a group that works with neighborhood girls – to build self-esteem and to teach them how to avoid being recruited by pimps. School district officials say it’s hard to prevent because the pimps just look like regular guys.

And recruitment can happen anywhere, says Ly. “It happens at the bus stops, it happens in front of homes, and it happens in front of schools…Not too long ago, one of the girls who attends our afterschool programs called me and she was really, really distraught. She was like ‘Nhuanh! Nhuanh! I can’t believe this just happened! A pimp just tried to recruit me and he actually picked me up in his car.”

Ly says, as shocking as it seems, the average age that girls get recruited into trafficking in the US is 12 years old. It’s a common misconception that girls are trafficked after being kidnapped. But many times it’s more subtle than that. It can start with a seduction or even a relationship. So Ly encourages families to have frank conversations early about dating and sex. “Yeah, it’s awkward talking to your parents about sex, right? … A common response for parents is to try shut their children away from seeing this. But the reality is that it’s so visible and it’s so prevalent that we

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Protesters in San Francisco gathered on Monday to condemn Pope Benedict XVI and his part in allegedly covering up one American priest's abuse of 200 deaf children.  The members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) who assembled in front of the Archdiocese of San Francisco objected in particular to the Pope’s characterization of the sex abuse scandal as “petty gossip.”

“People have a hard time accepting the fact that the supposed holiest man on earth has conducted himself in a criminal manner,” said Joey Piscitelli, spokesperson for SNAP. Piscitelli who was sexually abused by a priest in the 70’s, said the Catholic Church can no longer hide from the truth. “I don’t recommend seeking spirituality in an atmosphere of rulers who have notoriously raped children for hundreds of years, gotten away with it and now literally are calling it petty,” he said.

The cover up allegations come at a time when the Catholic Church has been surrounded by several sex scandals. Recently, a video allegedly of an 82-year-old priest having sex with a19-year-old altar boy has been making its way through the Internet.

Watch more of Piscitelli’s interview:

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Lt. Mark Gagan, spokesperson for Richmond police, says they have arrested five people—two adults and three minors, in the attack of a 15-year-old Richmond High student. Four of those arrested will be charged as adults. The girl was gang raped and beaten for almost two-and-a-half hours. She was left unconscious under a bench a little before midnight. Lt. Gagan also added that as many as ten people were involved in the assault while another ten people watched without calling police. The victim was released from the hospital on Wednesday.

Marin Trujillo, district community engagement and media spokesperson, says Richmond High is working closely with Richmond police to ensure their students are safe. Trujillo says Richmond High will continue to go through with its plans to hold a dance this weekend. To ensure their students' safety, faculty members, local police officers, and volunteers are planning to cover more areas surrounding the campus. Trujillo says, “There will be a drop off and pick up zone to ensure kids are being picked up.” Trujillo also mentioned they will be covering more ground and faculty members and police officers won’t leave campus until the campus is clear.

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We met Joseph Rocha at an anti-Prop 8 rally in San Francisco back in May. Little did we know at the time that his story would prove to be so compelling. This week we asked Joseph to share his story with the audience of KQED-FM, and he produced the following Perspective.

By: Joseph Christopher Rocha

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Rihanna and Chris Brown have been one of the youngest controversial celebrities. They are making headlines, not for their music, but for their abusive relationship. After choking and punching ex-girlfriend Rihanna, today Chris Brown was sentenced to five years of probation and 1,400 hours of "labor-oriented service"

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Students at Roosevelt High in downtown Los Angeles slipped into blue jeans to educate their peers about sexual violence as part of Wednesday’s worldwide commemoration of Denim Day. Among the supporters joining the students was the actress Calista Flockhart, who serves as the spokesperson for Peace Over Violence. The group organized the event in L.A.

Youth Radio’s Summer Sewell was also there to photograph the tabling students and their decorated denims. (See her gallery of photos in the right-hand column.)

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When I was eight, I was sexually assaulted. Two years later, my five-year-old auntie was raped.

I’m Rynesha Snowden with a commentary from Youth Radio.

My auntie immediately told her guardians what happened to her, but I hadn’t told a soul about what happened to me. In that way my auntie wasn’t a victim – she fought back. And I kind of was, because I didn’t. But years later it flipped.
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Five years ago, when Quincy Mosby was 14, his mother told him she was HIV positive. Even as his mom copes with her illness and tries to embrace life, Quincy says that sometimes, all he can see is her death.

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In his State of the Union address last week, President Bush called for more funds for the nation’s schools to teach abstinence. Read more...

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