Currently, only seven states ban the practice with no exceptions. One 2021 study found that 300,000 minors under the age of 18 were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018.
n addition to starting a digital letter writing campaign and requesting a personalized resolution for a specific city or county, Nashahibi says it’s important for parents to speak openly with their children.
“Parents can’t put their heads in the sand and say, ‘This is not going to happen to our kids,” she says. “Have an honest discussion about your religion, abstention or safe sex. Talk about what’s a healthy relationship, what is allowed and what’s not allowed, and how to respect your own body.”