Fierce Freedom

08/28/2026

The US Court of Appeals for the 7th circuit (WI, Illinois, and Indiana) just ruled that possession of AI-generated child po*******hy is NOT illegal because it isn't actually involving an actual child and is therefore protected under the first amendment.

Never mind that these generated images are fed by social media and other images of actual children or that consuming child po*******hy directly feeds into the demand for the trafficking of children.

This ruling is both incredibly troubling and should raise alarm bells that our court systems have significant gaps which are allowing predators and exploiters of children no legal accountability for these actions which feed the hugely lucrative machine of child r*pe and exploitation.

This is not the kind of world we want the next generation to inherit, we must do better in to create laws and systems that no longer enable this abuse.🚨⚖📣

08/26/2026

⏰ EARLY BIRD TICKETS END SEPTEMBER 1 AT NOON!

Don’t miss your chance to join us for the 5th Annual Empower Freedom Conference on October 16 in Eau Claire! 🎉

Spend the day learning from powerful voices in the fight against trafficking and exploitation, connecting with others who care about this work, and leaving equipped to make a difference in your community.

🎤 Inspiring keynote speakers
💬 Interactive panel discussion
🍽️ Breakfast + lunch included
📚 Conference materials + refreshments
🎁 Door prize entry
🔥 Secure your early bird price before it’s gone!

⏰ Deadline: September 1 at NOON

👉 Get your tickets today and join us for Empower Freedom 2026!
bit.ly/empowerfreedom2026

08/12/2026

This monthly donor sends a check by mail—and repurposes envelopes they receive to send it. It makes us smile for so many reasons! 💌🌱

There’s something pretty wonderful about generosity, sustainability, and creativity all showing up in the same envelope.

You can be a recurring donor, too! Mail your check to:

Fierce Freedom
PO Box 246
Altoona, WI 54720

Or give online: fiercefreedom.org/support⁠Attachment.png

Every recurring gift helps make our work possible, month after month. Thank you for being part of it!

08/04/2026

On today's podcast episode, we're joined by Liberty Sarkar, Certification Manager of Safe House Project and Amanda Pulley, survivor leader and Founder of Wild Hope Brainspotting & Consulting to discuss Safe House Project's Ally Training.

👉bit.ly/ffpod-safehouseproject

This training is a comprehensive, trauma-informed certification program designed to equip professionals, advocates, and allies with the skills necessary to support survivors of human trafficking effectively.

Additionally, Amanda and Liberty unpack common myths about trafficking that this training seeks to address, and explore why understanding our own neurobiology changes how we respond, not react to survivors.

Lastly, they'll share about how the Ally training provides advocates the tools needed to elevate and ground their work in compassion and sustainable best practices.

If you'd like to check out a sample of this training, visit: https://training.safehouseproject.org/library

If you'd like to check out Safe House Project's other professional trainings and resources, or to support their work, visit: https://www.safehouseproject.org

07/29/2026

"About 300,000 minors — the vast majority of them girls — were legally married in the United States between 2000 and 2018. Prior to 2018, child marriage was legal in all 50 states.
“We must enact this legislation at a federal level to protect the future of hundreds of thousands of young girls who have been stripped of their independence,” Sen. Dick Durbin said in a statement."

A bill that aims to prevent child marriage was introduced in both the House and Senate last week.

The legislation was first introduced in 2024 and is the first concerted effort by Congress to condemn and prevent child marriage domestically.

Under the U.S. Constitution, only individual states can set minimum age requirements for marriage. The federal government has no authority over family or domestic law, but it does have control over immigration laws related to spousal and fiancé visas.

This bill would act as “a practical roadmap” for states to end child marriage, Moore said.

“I don’t think people realize that child marriages do occur in the United States, so I want to build awareness with this bill,” Rep. Gwen Moore, a co-sponsor of the bill, told The 19th. “And also it’s just part of my wheelhouse of trying to stop violence against women. This is just yet another piece of that puzzle.”

About 300,000 minors — the vast majority of them girls — were legally married in the United States between 2000 and 2018. Prior to 2018, child marriage was legal in all 50 states.

“We must enact this legislation at a federal level to protect the future of hundreds of thousands of young girls who have been stripped of their independence,” Sen. Dick Durbin said in a statement.

✍️: Mariel Padilla, general assignment reporter
📸: Emily Scherer for The 19th

https://bit.ly/4pFRruQ

07/29/2026

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/28/spacexs-xai-sues-minnesota-over-law-to-ban-nudify-apps-.html

We are disgusted that X-AI is not only creating opportunity for blatant exploitation of minors and adults through their "nudification" app, but they have now filed a lawsuit against Minnesota for blocking this technology in their state. 💻

"The Minnesota law, which goes into effect on Saturday, targets apps and websites that give people the ability to generate non-consensual s*xualized imagery, levying $500,000 fines each time a user creates explicit deepfakes. The law, passed in April, was spearheaded by Minnesota state Sen. Erin Maye Quade after she learned about a man who created s*xualized images and videos of of over 80 women he knew using their social media photos without their consent."

Hats off to you for your leadership in the fight! We stand with you. 🙌

Elon Musk's xAI, now owned by SpaceX, is challenging a law that would ban so-called nudify apps in Minnesota

07/27/2026

We are so grateful to WWIB Radio for honoring survivor Emily Rush, and for the opportunity to share some memories of Emily as well as some important truths we believe she would want others to walk away with.

Note: This content may not be suitable for younger audiences. Please listen and share with discretion. ❤

07/23/2026

Our hearts are grieved at the loss of Emily Rush, who recently passed away due to medical complications. We met Emily some years ago when she reached out to us and shared about her experience as a survivor of s*x trafficking.

We will miss the special way Emily lit up a room with her humor, joy, creativity, and beauty.

She used her many talents to reach out to help others who were falling through the cracks, she told her story boldly in front of politicians, professionals, and youth in the hopes that it would help others who had been in a similar vulnerable state.

We'll never forget the day Emily spoke in front of the Wisconsin State Assembly to advocate for Safe Harbor legislation, to prevent juveniles from being arrested for prostitution - when in reality they are victims like she herself was.

If you'd like to hear Emily's story in her own words - you can view that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9hmnNcWZQ

For someone who had experienced so much injustice and hardship, she only had words of compassion and forgiveness to say about those who had wronged her.

Her faith in Jesus always gave her so much hope and peace. We share in her belief that she has left this life behind for a new life in the next. One that is of joy, freedom and peace everlasting.

Thank you Emily, for being part of our lives. May your message carry and be amplified into the lives of those who need to hear it most. We love and miss you. ❤

View Emily Rose Rush's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.