Birmingham Groups Team Up To Fight Human Trafficking
The Junior League of Birmingham, the Birmingham Airport Authority, and the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama are teaming up to stop human trafficking in the Birmingham area.
The Junior League of Birmingham and Birmingham airport authority are putting up signs in every bathroom stall in the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport that features information about human trafficking, how to spot a victim, and helpline information. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama will translate the signs into Spanish.
The signs will also direct callers to submit tips to Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign hotline: (866) 347-2423. They will be available free of charge for any establishment willing to put them up. Commercial sex is estimated to be a $110 million dollar industry in the Birmingham metro area.
“The Junior League cannot stand by and let this happen in our community. We must educate each other on the signs of sex trafficking and learn how to respond when we see something suspicious. We believe that this powerful partnership will be a huge step in directing the public to submit tips to Homeland Security and help put an end to this tragic trade,” Julia Meyers, anti-human trafficking chair for the Junior League of Birmingham, said in a statement.
“When I think about the number of human trafficking victims that could potentially pass through this airport, it breaks my heart and compels me to take whatever action I can to help protect our children,” added Ronald Mathieu, president, and CEO of the Birmingham Airport Authority.
He concluded, “We are grateful to partner with the Junior League of Birmingham, as well as local law enforcement, to raise public awareness, identify human trafficking situations and help any victims that may be traveling through the Birmingham airport. We must all work together to confront this crime against humanity and protect our children.”
Dakota Layton graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He is currently enrolled at the University of Mississippi where he is working to earn his Master of Arts in Philosophy.
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