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Sonagachi is the largest red light district in Kolkata. It’s home to thousands of prostitutes and their families. It’s frequented by thousands of men every day. All day and all night, there are women lining the streets, waiting. All day and all night, there are men walking, leering, touching, paying. All day and all night, there are children smiling, laughing, playing in the streets.

I visited the sex lanes of Sonagachi several times while I was in Kolkata in December, during the day and at night. I was overwhelmed to the point of nausea thinking of the society that surrounded me. It’s a society where violence is normal and sex is purchased on demand. It’s a society where everyone is a victim corrupted by a system of depravity. I was torn between trying to show compassion to the women and steering clear of the men who had the societal right to touch anyone, even me.

The first time I was in Sonagachi, it was daytime and I walked with one of the women who’d been at Freeset since the beginning, former prostitute trafficked from Bangladesh. She held my hand and told me she’d take care of me. Though still a nerve-wracking experience, I felt safe and protected under her care. And I thought of all the women and kids in Sonagachi who are totally vulnerable and unprotected—from strangers, from the men in their families, from hunger, from disease.

The second time I was in the sex lanes, it was a Tuesday night, and I was with Annie, one of the founders of Freeset. I watched her stop and greet dozens of women who she knew. She talked to them about their children, their health, their lives. Some of her friends were prostitutes standing in line, some were Freeset women or women who worked with other businesses of freedom. Each woman she spoke to could be sure that someone loved and cared for them—no matter where they’d been or what their current situation was in life. Annie’s love helped women who’ve been mistreated and lied to their whole lives slowly learn to trust.

Keep reading over the next few days for more about Freeset—and stay tuned for the unveiling of our new Freeset tees!

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