Human trafficking is happening everywhere in the United States. Thousands of fellow humans suffer in our very own states, in our hometowns. In your neighborhood. This is domestic human trafficking.
Above is a map of the reported cases of human trafficking in 2017. Just the reported cases.
This map is a map of 10,615 victims who were lucky enough to be noticed or escape and report their abuse.
Sadly, there are more victims. So many more that aren’t on this map that aren’t getting help because no one has noticed their suffering.
Human trafficking is happening right here, in our hometowns. Keep your eyes peeled.
Consider this,
All it took was a quick google search for me to find:
Everett, WA: 13 victims of sex trafficking rescued - 2 of whom were minors - all of their captors had online ads offering sex that law enforcement used to identify and contact the victims
Sacramento, CA: A local high school soccer coach charged with trafficking teenage girls - 2 girls were with him when he was arrested - One had managed to hide from him in the bushes of a house and call the police
Western AZ: Search warrants for 10 massage parlors led to the arrest of 8 traffickers and the rescue of 2 victims - Locals tipped off the police when they saw something suspicious
It wasn’t hard to find these stories. All I had to do was look.
Of reported cases, the top 3 types were escort services, illicit massage businesses, and residential brothels.
Most of the survivors were 19 years old when first trafficked, just on the cusp of adulthood.
What were you doing when you were 19? Were you looking forward to college? Were you excited to go on a date? Were you and your friends planning to go on a trip together? Were you tricked into slavery? Were you kidnapped off the street and sold?
What are you doing now?
Help the women, men, and children who are suffering silently as victims of human trafficking by spreading the word that they exist and are in need of rescuing in your local area. Be a voice for freedom, like the locals in Western Arizona who alerted police when they saw suspicious activity.
You can make a difference in the life of a survivor who has already been rescued by giving a gift of $20 to provide an aftercare kit with what they need to feel safe and cared for. Visit our advocacy page here to give the gift of freedom.