TAT Brings Anti-Trafficking Campaign To Ohio State Fair

by Jana Ritter - Published: 7/29/2016

With the success of its continued campaign to combat the human sex trafficking rampant at truck stops across the US, Truckers Against Trafficking has rapidly expanded its audience from truck drivers to law enforcement and the general public. On Friday, TAT made another stop in their nationwide tour to team up with Ohio State Troopers and present the “Freedom Drivers” project at the Ohio State Fair.

                                                              

The Freedom Drivers project is a first of its kind mobile exhibit created by Truckers Against Trafficking to provide a glimpse into the harsh reality of human trafficking and to educate audiences about what actions everyone can take to fight it. "It is illegal all over the world yet it is happening in every country of the world," explains Kylla Lanier of TAT. "A gun to your head, a beating, torture, things of that nature -- I don't care who you are, what age, which gender you are that is going to compel you into something that maybe you didn't want to be in."  The Ohio State Highway Patrol welcomed the Freedom Drivers project to the state fair with open arms as the state has already been making serious attempts to combat the problem with a Human Trafficking Task Force and efforts  extending to universities, community leaders, law enforcement and the court system. Already, their tactics have proved to effective. According to the Ohio Attorney General's office, there were 98 human trafficking arrests in the state and a significant increase in human trafficking investigations as well. Ohio is also now the only state that requires truck drivers to be trained in recognizing human trafficking. This is something law enforcement says is just one step towards finding hope for victims.

                                                              

Robbie Lepard is a truck driver whose job has him traveling regularly through Central Ohio. As a frequent patron of the truck stops along his route, Lepard says he is relieved to know that more is being done to alert people about traffickers and that law enforcement is more aggressively on their tail. "Because they are able to hide it, keep it out of sight that is how they hide it, that is how they get away with it," Lepard says. "I had my oldest daughter with me here just a couple weeks ago and I watched her like a hawk because I know what is out here."

OHP Captain Mike Crispen acknowledges that the victims of human trafficking aren’t in a position to enforce their way out of the situation. "It requires people to be aware of it, to make contact and to help the victims get out of this situation," Crispen explains. “Everyone is taking it seriously. People are starting to realize this is more than prostitution.”

Truck drivers and anyone who suspects a human trafficking situation are asked to call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 to report what they see or know. You can also text INFO or HELP to BeFree (233733)

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