I think I’ll always have respect for Laurie Holden after she played Andrea on three seasons of the hit AMC series, “The Walking Dead.” Her death at the end of season three had me a little misty eyed, to say the least. I’ve been secretly hoping she’d return to the show in a flash-back or dream a la Shane and Lori, but it looks like Ms. Holden is doing something much more important these days. The actress was just a part of a sting that helped to bring down one of the worst sex trafficers in Columbia.
ABC News has learned that the sting was dubbed Operation Underground Railroad, and it was lead by former CIA and Homeland Security Agent Tim Ballard. The undercover mission, as stated by RollingStone.com, was comprised of “a ragtag group of volunteers.” Laurie Holden was just one of those volunteers. Her job was to distract and comfort the girls while money was exchanged in a fake trafficking scheme at a fake child’s birthday party. The venue was thought of as a way to make the head sex trafficker, Marcus Bronschidle, feel comfortable bringing underage girls for auction.
In total, the bust captured head honcho Marcus Bronschidle and three other high profile traffickers, and freed 55 girls – all between the ages of 12 and 14 – from sex slavery in Columbia. The whole thing was documented on “Nightline” and will serve as the basis for the upcoming documentary, The Abolitionists.
In a post sting interview, Holden told RollingStone.com, “When they first showed up, some of them looked really terrified. I talked to a few of them and asked them how old they were. Some were 12. Some were 13. Most were 14. One of the girls came in, embraced me, started to cry, then I started to cry. What makes me sad is that yes, we got four traffickers, and I hope they fry, but what makes me sad is that so many of these little girls, they don’t know any different. I know we did some good tonight. But I know that more needs to be done.”
I am so proud of you, Laurie! Not only are you an actress associated with the highest rated show on cable ever, but you’re also one Hell of a woman – brave, intelligent, moral, and courageous enough to put yourself in the line of fire to do some good. I certainly tip my hat to you with respect. Keep up the good work!
