SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (LifeSiteNews) — The pro-life president of El Salvador screened the hit movie Sound of Freedom at the Presidential Theater for more than 1,500 people this weekend, including his cabinet and members of the Legislative Assembly. He also pledged to fight child trafficking.
On Friday, Nayib Bukele sat down with Eduardo Verástegui, the film’s producer, and Neal Stoker Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios, the film’s distributor.
Esta tarde, el Presidente @nayibbukele se encuentra reunido con @EVerastegui, productor de la película #SoundOfFreedom, @SOFMovie2023 y el CEO de @AngelStudiosInc, Neal Stoker Harmon. pic.twitter.com/xolMaoDcVy
— Casa Presidencial 🇸🇻 (@PresidenciaSV) July 28, 2023
Following their meeting, Bukele signed a Letter of Intent with Verástegui’s Viva México Movement promising to help eradicate child slavery. In doing so, El Salvador became the first country to commit to the pledge, which directs government bodies and public institutions to collaborate in their efforts.
Gracias, presidente @nayibbukele , por invitarnos a presentar Sound of Freedom en El Salvador. Gracias, por su decisión y valentía, al firmar un convenio de trabajo y cooperación para impulsar una lucha sin cuartel contra el crimen feroz de la trata de niños. Celebramos haber… pic.twitter.com/irXWrRRNsE
— Eduardo Verástegui (@EVerastegui) July 30, 2023
Since its U.S. premier on July 4, Sound of Freedom has grossed over $125 million dollars. Scores of mainstream media outlets have attempted to dissuade the public from seeing it by accusing it of promoting “conspiracy theories.” Thus far, people have not listened. It is set for release across more than a dozen Latin American countries on August 31.
Bukele, 41, has come under fire from Western news organizations in recent months, despite touting a 90 percent approval rating as well as overseeing a historic drop in crime. A growing number of outlets have labeled him an “autocrat” who is a “threat to democracy.” But Bukele’s supporters argue that his anti-woke, “El Salvador First” policies are simply common sense measures that are improving the everyday lives of his citizens. He is up for re-election in 2024.
Human trafficking has become the fastest growing international criminal trade in the world, with millions of kidnapped children suffering in these networks of exploitation and evil.
Join us in calling on Congress to pass Senator Marsha Blackburn’s End Child Trafficking Now Act – do not be silent as the vulnerable suffer.
SIGN: We demand that Congress act now to end the scourge of child trafficking
Human trafficking is set to overtake the drugs trade, and has already passed the illegal arms trade, as the most lucrative criminal industry in the world.
There are over 40 million children and vulnerable adults around the globe who are victims of this industry, with child sex-trafficking reported in all 50 U.S. states.
Every citizen should be appaled by this vile industry. The age range of those affected differs across the world, but precious children appear to be the key targets now. This is a global operation.
With the newly released “Sound of Freedom” already generating significant momentum around the issue, it’s crucial we send a loud message to the U.S. Congress that child trafficking must STOP in and to our country.
As a first step, Senator Marsha Blackburn’s End Child Trafficking Now Act must be passed to require that any child entering the U.S. with an illegal immigrant does a DNA test to ensure they are related and not being trafficked.
SIGN: We demand that Congress act now to end the scourge of child trafficking
“As many as 30% of children DNA tested were found not to be related to the illegal immigrants posing as family members. Meanwhile, drug cartels and gangs use minors to falsely present themselves as family units and seek asylum at our southern border,” said Senator Blackburn.
“The Biden administration’s decision to halt all DNA familial testing is a grave misstep that not only puts the safety of Americans at risk but also increases the number of migrant children being trafficked,” she continued. “My legislation would stop criminals in their tracks and help protect children from exploitation – an idea we should all be able to support.”
72% of detected trafficking victims in North America are trafficked for sexual exploitation according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Once you have signed our petition, please share it with as many people as possible – we all have to fight to STOP this massive operation of evil!
Every name matters! Every name counts! This will help empower the citizens of our country, and the world to fight back. We the People deserve better. More importantly, our children deserve much better: to live in peace and enjoy a bright, loving future.
Please also inform yourself about the most recent trafficking statistics from your state and where it ranks on the list.
Tickets for ‘Sound of Freedom’ can be bought here!
Please keep Jim Caviezel in your prayers, along with Angel Studios. They are standing against a tide of evil from around the world, including from Hollywood.
Thank you, each one of you for your help and true devotion to keeping our children safe.
May God richly bless you!
Verástegui praised Bukele for not only being the first sitting president in the world to screen the movie (former U.S. President Donald Trump held a showing at his Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this month) but for promising to help end child trafficking.
“You, Mr. President, are a benchmark in the world. I have traveled to London and the theme of El Salvador always resonates. I congratulate you because the worldwide image that this country has is admirable. This is not free, this is earned with deeds, deeds not words,” he said.
“Usted, Presidente @nayibbukele, es referente en el mundo. He viajado a Londres y el tema de El Salvador siempre resuena. Yo lo felicito porque la imagen a nivel mundial que tiene este país es admirable. Esto no es de gratis, esto se gana con hechos, hechos no palabras”,… pic.twitter.com/kt1K2otq1L
— Casa Presidencial 🇸🇻 (@PresidenciaSV) July 29, 2023
Bukele praised his wife for her efforts to protect children as well as Verástegui and Angel Studios for shining a light on the issue.
“The problem that the film addresses is a topic that is rarely talked about, some are afraid to talk about it,” he said during the press conference. “It is important that the message reaches the whole world so that there are solutions and reforms to be able to eradicate child trafficking.”
#SoundOfFreedom | El Presidente @nayibbukele recibió al productor de la película “Sound of Freedom”, @EVerastegui, con quien firmó una carta de intención para trabajar en el combate contra la trata y explotación sexual de menores. #SecretaríaDePrensa pic.twitter.com/CHoI9P1kC2
— Secretaría de Prensa de la Presidencia (@SecPrensaSV) July 29, 2023
Earlier this month, Verástegui sat down with LifeSite’s Doug Mainwaring to discuss the movie. He asked viewers to pray for him, as he is currently considering a run for president of Mexico.
To purchase tickets to Sound of Freedom for yourself, your family, or others, click here. A whopping 13 million have already been sold worldwide.
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