WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 10, 2017) – Polaris, a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery and help survivors restore their freedom, today hailed the third season of the ABC Studios produced series, “American Crime,” for capturing the reality of modern slavery in the United States. Polaris, whose staff served as advisors to the critically acclaimed and Emmy-Award winning series during the development and writing processes, praised the show for its comprehensive and realistic portrayal of human trafficking. The “American Crime” season premiere airs Sunday, March 12th at 10:00 p.m. EDT on the ABC Television Network.
“American Crime’s” third season takes place in North Carolina and focuses on multiple types of sex trafficking and forced labor, effectively highlighting the complex ways in which human trafficking intersects with issues like immigration and socioeconomic divides. Polaris, which appears within the second episode airing on Sunday, March 19 in a scene featuring Regina King and guest star Sandra Oh, believes the season will be an incredibly effective advocacy tool to raise awareness about the true nature of an often misunderstood crime.
At the end of the season premiere on Sunday, ABC will share information about the Polaris-operated National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) so victims who identify with situations portrayed in the episode know how to reach out and be connected to help.
“All of us at American Crime could not be more appreciative of Polaris for helping us further understand, and dramatize the incredibly pervasive aspects of human trafficking and modern slavery with clarity and sensitivity,” said creator and executive producer John Ridley. “While many of us talk about the issue of servitude, organizations such as Polaris work tirelessly to both extract individuals from slavery, and eradicate conditions that allow for human bondage.”
“American Crime captures the issue of modern slavery in America in a way we haven’t seen before on television. The series will be a critical tool in the fight against human trafficking as we work to raise awareness about how it occurs across multiple types in every state in the nation,” said Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris. “Trafficking is an issue often portrayed sensationally which leads to misconceptions, but American Crime captures the nuances and subtleties that survivors experience daily. It presents the reality of just how intertwined modern slavery is with our society, as well as the long-term challenges survivors face as they try to restore their freedom through a safety net that is underfunded, stretched thin, or entirely nonexistent in some places.”
Polaris will be releasing a groundbreaking typology report on the manifestations of modern slavery in the United States at the end of the month based on data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Multiple types of modern slavery represented in the report are depicted in “American Crime” this season. For more information on the season from ABC, click here.
“From the writers and producers to the cast and crew, the entire American Crime team has approached this season with a dedication to elevating the voices of survivors and a commitment to unearthing a reality that is often untold or misrepresented in our country. Their commitment to this series is reflected in its quality,” said Brandon Bouchard, Polaris’s Director of Media Relations who oversees partnerships with the entertainment industry. “We can’t thank John Ridley and Michael J. McDonald enough for focusing on these timely issues this season. It has been an incredible honor for us to work with the American Crime family over the last year.”
People can receive help or report a tip of suspected human trafficking in the United States by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by sending a text to Polaris at “BeFree” (233733).
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About American Crime
This season “American Crime” takes place in North Carolina and explores issues of forced labor, sex trafficking, immigration, socioeconomic divides, individual rights and how we are all a part of an economy that often prospers on economic oppression. “American Crime” stars Regina King as Kimara Walters, Felicity Huffman as Jeanette Hesby, Timothy Hutton as Nicholas Coates, Lili Taylor as Clair Coates, Connor Jessup as Coy Henson, Richard Cabral as Isaac Castillo and Benito Martinez as Luis Salazar.
“American Crime” is created and executive produced by Oscar-winner John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave”). Michael J. McDonald also serves as executive producer. “American Crime” is produced by ABC Studios.
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About Polaris
Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris acts as a catalyst to systemically disrupt the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. By working with government leaders, the world’s leading technology corporations, and local partners, Polaris equips communities to identify, report, and prevent human trafficking. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do – helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate. Learn more at www.polarisproject.org.
