May 28 - June 3, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 11
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Human smuggling industry finds huge success in social media marketing Reported by Nigel Boys Social media has made it easy for hundreds of migrants to be smuggled into European countries without a trace, according to Abdul Aziz, a smuggler from the Libyan port of Zuwara.
The boat-runner, who is among hundreds of people smugglers advertising their services on Facebook, brags that his web of influence not only stretches across the Mediterranean and the Middle East, but also into sub-Sahara Africa.
ALONZO MOURNING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR OPERATION UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO COMBAT CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING TRADE IN MIAMI — Miami Heat great Alonzo Mourning attended the Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) event at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral Gables to support the charity’s work to combat child sexual trafficking and trade in the U.S. and Latin America. Showing support for the program, run by former Homeland Security officer Tim Ballard, was Utah Attorney General Jose Reyes, who is an advocate of the international Megan’s Law and supports the Justice For Victims of Human Trafficking Act which recently passed the House and the Senate. Also in attendance at the gala fundraising dinner was a father of a victim of the trafficking trade, a four-year old boy taken from church in their native Haiti last year. The organization rescued over 50 children during simultaneous raids last year in Colombia and plans to set up a branch in Florida with involvement by pro golfer James Field, Jr. To learn more visit https://ourrescue.org/. OUR is the subject of an upcoming film and series The Abolitionists from Schindler’s List producer Gerald Molen.
“If people can’t get here to Libya, I have legal and illegal ways to get them into the county,” Aziz boasts in an interview on Skype with the BBC, claiming to have agents in ‘almost every Arab state.’” “With the beginning of the new season we have a range of journeys on offer,” states one of Aziz’s Facebook posts. “Turkey – Libya – Italy, $3,800, Algeria – Libya – Italy, $2,500, Sudan – Libya – Italy, $2,500 … The boats are all wood … If you have questions, contact me on Viber or WhatsApp.” With glowing testimonies from supposed migrants who have used their services, along with a special offer of “Kids go free,” the smugglers’ pages advertise fake documents and safe passages by land, air or sea, complete with photos of luxury cruise liners and new passports. While over 35,000 migrants are reported to have reached Italy since the beginning of 2015, another approximately 1,800 are thought to have drowned in their journey towards a new life. Smugglers’ boats leaving Libya are believed to have been responsible for over 220,000 migrants crossing the Mediterranean last year. Some of the migrants are lucky to be rescued at sea by the Italian coastguard or navy, but others’ dreams end in a watery demise. “Until 2012, we didn’t use social media at all,” Aziz told the BBC, adding that now around 10 to 20 people contact him daily through his Facebook page. “Now, it accounts for between 30 percent and 40 percent of my business.”
Smugglers advertise themselves and their services proudly online without the slightest fear of being brought to justice for their crimes since the collapse of the Libyan state. “What authorities? There aren’t any authorities. There isn’t even a regime. There’s nothing,” Aziz said, laughing at the suggestion that his Facebook page might lead to his arrest by authorities. Calling the industry the “biggest travel company in the world,” Italian journalist Giampaolo Musumeci, who has written a book about North Africa’s smuggling gangs, said the smugglers’ social media presence is “part of the marketing operation.” He claims that smuggling operations have been ongoing for at least 30 years, with African migrants sailing from Zuwara. Even though new European Union proposals to distribute migrants across member states aim at reducing people smuggling in Europe, Musumeci be-
lieves that as long as migrants want to find a new life, people smugglers will continue to thrive. He adds that European politicians’ unwillingness to meet the demand for asylum is one of the main reasons for smugglers’ success. “They’re thinking about how to get into Europe 24 hours a day … They communicate. They stay in touch. They change routes,” said Musumeci about
the smugglers. “One of these guys told me, ‘We study Europe, we study the laws, and the more you close the borders the more money we’re going to make'.”
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FAMU Broward Alumni – Milton L. Jones, Jr. and Mary Shaw Smith receives National Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award FAMU National Alumni Association recognized its Largest Class of 24 outstanding distinguished alumni honorees which included two of Broward’s finest, Milton L. Jones, Jr., and Mary Shaw Smith. This year the awards ceremony was held for the first time away from the University at the National Convention in Houston, Texas at the Doubletree by Hilton Greenway Plaza.
AKA Chapters partner for Playground Mobilization-Service Impact Day
Jones and Shaw Smith
Chi Psi Omega and Kappa Kappa Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Chi Psi Omega and Kappa Kappa Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated partnered, Saturday, May 16, 2015, for Playground Mobilization; under the umbrella of Target IV: Environmental Ownership and one of six Service Impact Days set aside by the sorority‘s international program committee. The event took place at Broward College North Campus Early Childhood Laboratory for 70 toddlers, successfully completing Phase I of a three-year project for playground renewal. More than 60 participated; garnering more than 200 volunteer hours to complete Phase
I, aesthetics. Preparation included Broward College staff painting walls, delivering plants and palettes of moisture controlled soil. Playground Mobilization participants made two butterfly gardens and prepared two raised beds for vegetable gardens. Chi Psi Omega participants included: Veronica Phillips, president; Luwando WrightHines, Barbara J. Thomas, chairman; Avis Proctor, Venetta McCullough, Joyce Toran, Emma H. Kurtz, Malikh Franklin-Williams, Paula Edwards, Cheriane Zephy, Joel R. McCray, Miriam Cato, Josetta B. Patterson, Alana DaSent, Ju-
line Blanfort and Gracia Curlee-Gordon. Kappa Kappa Omega participants included: LaNetta Henry, president; Kara Bailey, Bernice Bailey, chairman; Rendolyn Amaker, Abbie Bryan, Karen Stokes, Paula Bailey-Gilchrist, Andrea Black, Laconia Martin, Andrea Knowles, Connie Phillips, Davette Wright, Susan McCray, Shamilia Thomas and Vetia Josephs. Target I, ASCEND, included Camille Hines, Brandon DaSent, Natasha Pascoe, Alexander Pascoe, Alexandra Pascoe, Alexis Roberson and Mianna Bidon. Broward College North Campus staff included Michele
Cabrera, Director Early Childhood Laboratory and Jennifer Amador. Community volunteers included Kirstie Clinton, Melissa Chong, LaChavious Clark, Heidi Richardson, Leandrea Shaw, Raya T. McCray, Rigo Amador, Wright Thomas, Jr., Deante Mansfield, Amira Green, David Hines, Cosey Proctor III, and Melissa Chaz. Certificates were presented to partners Home Depot-Oakland Park Store and Nu Turf for donations and support. Evaluations evidenced the success of the chapters collaborating for Phase I.
The awards highlight the professional and personal achievements of FAMU Alumni while serving as a reminder that FAMU Rattlers are striking from the top in a variety of roles. Milton L. Jones, Jr. earned a BS degree in Political Science. Following his graduation, he earned his Florida State General Contractor License, Florida State Real Estate Salesman’s License, Florida State Real Estate Broker’s License and Florida State Mortgage License. He is a member on the Board of Governors of Nova southeastern University, Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and Investment Chairman Emeritus of FAMU Foundation. Mary Smith earned a BS degree in Nursing. Following her graduation, she earned a Mast-
er’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from FAU. She is presently the Recording Secretary of the National Alumni Association also serving on the following Committees: Budget and Finance, Membership, Scholarship and Media/Technology. She also serves as President of the FAMU Broward Alumni Chapter which has raised over $100,000 for scholarship assistance to deserving Broward students to attend FAMU. In 2014, the Chapter initiated its first Endowment in honor of LTC Pearl Ferguson one of its Philanthropists. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of FAMU’s alumni,” said FAMU NAA President Tommy Mitchell, Sr. “We appreciate everything they do to represent our brand positively through their work and at home through their support and service to their alma mater.”
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2015 Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference
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Broward County, Florida | Greater Fort Lauderdale
June 12-16, 2015 A MUST-ATTEND EVENT FOR AIRPORT PROFESSIONALS, CORPORATIONS AND SMALL BUSINESSES! The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) invites you to join us at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa for the 2015 Airport Business Diversity Conference, “Business Beyond the Beach: Elevating Global Opportunity”.
Register Now: www.sunny.org/amac South Florida, attend conference activities and special events including: • Project LIFT FLL (High School & College Student progam) • Pre-Conference Workshop - Airport Concessions: Is it the Opportunity for You? • Bill Walker Memorial Golf Tournament • Opening Reception featuring Marc Morial, President, National Urban League • Celebrating Women in Aviation Breakfast Contact us to learn more! Email: AMAC2015FLL@broward.org | Phone: 954-357-6400
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