January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness month. Specifically, Jan. 11 is the national day of recognition by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or DHS. To raise awareness, DHS recognizes the day with their social media campaign called the Blue Campaign which encourages individuals to use the hashtag #WearBlueDay.
In accordance, Michigan State Police, or MSP, are joining forces with Ohio State Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police, Indiana State Police as well as the organization Truckers Against Trafficking to educate motorists on the signs of Human Trafficking between Jan. 13 and 17, according to a press release from MSP.
Truckers Against Trafficking, or TAT, was created in order to educate members of the trucking, bus and energy industries, according to their mission statement. TAT reports that 845,115 individuals are registered as TAT trained.
MSP began partnering with TAT in 2015 in order to educate the public about signs of human trafficking, according to the release.
“We are striving to raise awareness and educate those individuals in positions to observe human trafficking taking place, such as commercial motor vehicle drivers, public transportation companies, rest area attendants and truck stop employees,” Capt. Michael Krumm, commander of the MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, said in the release. “You are a force multiplier that can act as the eyes and ears of Michigan’s highways.”
Individuals who have knowledge of suspected human trafficking are encouraged to call the National Human Trafficking Resources Center at 888-373-7888 or text BeFree to 233733.
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