SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which has a South Dakota nonprofit gearing up to raise awareness.
It can be hard to imagine human trafficking taking place in South Dakota, but it does… just ask Mary Jackson.
“I am a survivor and I am much more than a survivor of both sex trafficking and labor trafficking over 20 years ago, when there were no services available,” Survivor Service and Program Coordinator, Call to Freedom, Mary Jackson said.
It’s part of the reason why she decided to work at Call to Freedom.
“I work with other survivors also. I mentor them, I walk alongside them, and they’re just amazed at how much this community cares about them and loves them too,” Jackson said.
One way to show support is to take part in National Human Trafficking Awareness on Saturday. Call to Freedom is encouraging people to wear blue, put a blue X on their hand, and post to social media.
“We want our community to have a real stamp and that X says we’re not going to take this anymore and we’re going to stand together and make sure that that ends within our communities,” President & CEO, Call to Freedom, Becky Rasmussen said.
While South Dakota is a great place to live, that doesn’t mean it’s safe from the harsh reality of human trafficking.
“That is one of the biggest misconceptions that human trafficking is not happening here and it actually hurts people who are in trafficking situations. What do I mean by that? Less than 1% of victims are ever identified, if a victim does not feel like they’re heard or believed in a situation– they’re not going to come out,” Rasmussen said.
The more people who take part on Saturday, the Call to Freedom team is hoping more victims will feel supported and ask for help.
“Years ago nobody talked about it. So I think it’s the importance of bringing that awareness, getting educated, knowing what’s happening in your state. It might look different in what it looks like maybe on the East Coast or West Coast, but nobody’s for sale,” Jackson said.
The Arc of Dreams will be blue from January 10th to the 16th in honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
