Kim Kardashian's Justice Campaign Successful: Sex-Trafficking Victim Now Free

Celebrities clamoring for justice has proven to help victims in the case of Cyntoia Brown.

Brown, 31, who was imprisoned 14 years ago for killing a man who paid to have sex with her as a minor, was released from Tennessee Prison for Women early Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Corrections announced.

Brown was tried as an adult and given a life sentence after shooting 43-year-old Johnny Allen at his home in 2004. She described the act as self-defense in response to seeing him reach for a gun.

Brown was a victim of abuse as a child from an alcoholic mother and of sex trafficking from an older boyfriend who had sold her to Allen. Her release from prison came months after Gov. Bill Haslam commuted her sentence on January 7.

Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Lebron James rallied on their social media platforms more than a year ago to demand justice for Brown. Kardashian also mentioned offering legal assistance on the matter.

“The system has failed. It’s heartbreaking to see a young girl sex trafficked then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life! We have to do better & do what’s right. I’ve called my attorneys yesterday to see what can be done to fix this. #FreeCyntoiaBrown,” Kim Kardashian West tweeted.

Early this year, Kardashian was reported to be taking up Law.

Rihanna also rallied support in a statement on Instagram.

“Imagine at the age of 16 being sex-trafficked by a pimp named ‘cut-throat.’ After days of being repeatedly drugged and raped by different men, you were purchased by a 43-year-old child predator who took you to his home to use you for sex. You end up finding enough courage to fight back and shoot and kill him,” said the singer.

Actress Cara Delevigne, NBA star LeBron James and rapper Snoop Dogg are among the other celebrities who have supported Brown.

While many rejoiced at the release of Brown from prison, many are still clamoring for systemic change in giving justice for trafficking and sex crime victims.

“Cyntoia Brown is finally free—but we can’t forget that she was denied justice for over 14 years. The words above the Supreme Court say ‘Equal Justice Under Law.’ We need to start acting like it, and that means standing up for survivors of sexual violence,” said senator Elizabeth Warren on Twitter.

Human trafficking was not a federal crime in the U.S. until the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in 2000.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received more than 23,500 reports of endangered runaways in 2018. Out this number of reported cases, one in seven were likely victims of child sex trafficking.

Based on reports to the center, the average age of child sex trafficking victims is 15.