Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Freedom Caucus highlighted a recent meeting between The Sound of Freedom’s Tim Ballard, and State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) and U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL).

“Chairman Chris Miller and Congresswoman Mary Miller meet with Tim Ballard of Sound of Freedom!” The Illinois Freedom Caucus said on Facebook. “Yesterday, Chairman Miller and his wife, Congresswoman Miller, met with the brave and courageous Tim Ballard. Ballard's story of fighting against child trafficking and sexual violence has echoed across the nation in the recent film, the Sound of Freedom.”

“Illinois is contributing to the epidemic of Child Sex Trafficking as the state continues to pass extreme woke policies that promote adults invading private spaces with our children, and allow for organizations like the American Library Association to put sexually explicit material in front of our kids in elementary school.” 

“We must stand strong to protect our children!” 

The movie "Sound of Freedom," based on a former government agent's efforts to rescue child sex trafficking victims, has surpassed $140 million at the domestic box office, making it the first indie film in the post-pandemic era to achieve this milestone. The film has become a surprise hit and ranks among the top 20 biggest releases of the year, surpassing movies with larger budgets and star-studded casts. The film's distributor, Angels Studios, is using an unconventional "Pay It Forward" program to boost its popularity, allowing supporters to purchase tickets for others who may not otherwise see the film, Forbes reported. 

Illinois ranks number eight in human trafficking nationally. Major urban centers in states like Illinois appear to have higher trafficking numbers, potentially due to large transient populations, thriving nightlife, and diverse industries that can exploit vulnerable individuals, according to Wise Voter.

Ballard, the former US agent whose story inspired the film "Sound of Freedom," criticized President Joe Biden's border policies, stating they are incentivizing traffickers. He emphasized the dangers posed to unaccompanied minors crossing the border and expressed concerns about the current border situation. The film, which depicts Ballard's efforts to rescue children from sex traffickers, has received praise from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who hopes it will inspire bipartisan action to combat human trafficking. The GOP has been critical of the Biden administration's handling of the border, with reports of lost migrant children prompting concerns and calls for increased border security measures. Human trafficking remains a challenging issue, with estimates suggesting that between 600,000 and 800,000 individuals, including many children, are trafficked through international borders annually, New York Post reported.