Episode 50: Advice from the O.G. in the Fight Against Youth Trafficking in the U.S.

For the 50th Episode, the Emancipation Nation brings you the anti-trafficking pioneer, Dr. Lois Lee. Dr. Lee began her work fighting youth sex trafficking in the early 70s on the streets of Hollywood and to date, has 41 years of experience. Her pioneering work blazed the trail that other anti-trafficking advocates follow today. From suing the LAPD for not arresting customers to her involvement trying to save women from the Hillside strangler, Dr. Lee is a force for to be reckoned with.  It was during this time that she found out that children were involved in prostitution and pornography. She began to give each child she engaged a safe place to live, which turned into helping over 250 children. Word of her work got back to the White House where President Reagan got involved to help.  However, bets were taken by some over whether she would be killed by pimps or the crooked police. Hugh Hefner, of Playboy magazine, stepped in to help Lee set up a nonprofit corporation. Instead of being at risk, Lee became the founder of the first, and still thriving, “Children of the Night” program. To date. Children of the Night has helped over 10,000 youth. Lee’s work and life has been featured on 60 minutes, a 1985 CBS Movie of the Week, and a 1989 song by Richard Marx called “Children of the Night”. She won the prestigious Volunteer Action Award presented to her in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. To date, Lee’s organization has raised over 50 million dollars in private donations. She gives advice to anti-trafficking advocates around the world.