“If you see something, say something.”
In November 2023, my husband and I traveled west to see some of the nation’s most beautiful national parks. We landed at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, during our travels. However, the weekend that we arrived in the city was also the weekend that the most recent Formula One racing event took place in the United States. The airport was packed to the brim! But no sooner than we found our luggage, I noticed a familiar sight – human trafficking awareness posters.
These signs are common in high-volume areas and often portray a woman in distress, along with the saying, “If you see something, say something.” Typically, along the bottom of the picture is a phone number for travelers to call and report suspected trafficking cases.
My heart instantly sank.
While sex trafficking occurs every single day in a calendar year in the states, it is common for large-scale events to cause an increase in demand. This one was no different.
According to a local Vegas news article, following the event mentioned above, “36 pimps were arrested during race week, 31 ‘Johns,’ or customers, and seven people for soliciting a minor [were also arrested].”
And unfortunately, those were just the buyers and sellers caught. As human trafficking is a crime, it is always hard to pinpoint precisely how many victims were bought and sold surrounding the events happening in the states or abroad.
Another example would be last year’s Super Bowl. The Daily Signal reported that “Police investigated over 400 cases related to human trafficking during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas ….”
But what can we do to help this situation?
Like the sign said, “If you see something, say something.”
Raising awareness is the easiest and most important way to help bring justice to these victims. Events like these offer a unique opportunity to do so!
Brandi Bynum, the Acting Unit Chief of Homeland Security Investigations, recently commented on this in an 8 News Now article, saying, “Whenever there is a large-scale event like the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, or NFL Draft – anything where there are a lot of people at one time – it’s the perfect opportunity to raise awareness.”
But how can that be accomplished? A few ways that we can help these victims and raise awareness are as follows:
- Learn the signs. How can we “say something” if we don’t know what we’re looking for? Shared Hope International offers excellent resources that explain these signs. Their resource section also has an “On the Road Warning Signs” document that extensively explains what to look for while traveling. Some of these signs include the suspected victim having someone watch over their every move, having branding on them, being afraid, not speaking freely, showing signs of injuries, etc.
- Know that women and girls are not the only victims. In 2023, the U.S. Department of State reported that “The percentage of boys identified as victims of human trafficking more than quintupled between 2004 and 2020 – a much larger increase than for men, women, or girls.” By knowing that this isn’t a gender-specific issue, we can also look for the same signs in boys as well.
- Be bold. If you see something, say something. Those posters are not just for looks. By calling the human trafficking hotline or 911 in an emergency, you can contact the proper authorities to come and check out the situation. Never take matters into your own hands. There are trained individuals ready to act in these situations.
But the most important thing that we could ever do for those trapped in this lifestyle is Pray. For those who have experienced this life, they are carrying more trauma than many of us can imagine. Oftentimes, even if rescued, the weight of this trauma can be challenging for these victims to process. Pray that once these survivors are found, they will have people who show them the love of Jesus and that they will accept Him as their one true Savior.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).
For more information and help learning the signs of human trafficking and more advice on raising awareness, visit eightdaysofhope.com and sharedhope.org/resources. To report suspected trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (in the event of a minor), or in the case of emergency, 911.
