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Human Trafficking Human Trafficking is a growing problem in our community and is causing parents and students to worry. Kiley Peterson Aminah Syed
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ou’re at Walmart picking up a sibling or friend. All of a sudden, a guy pulls up in a car and asks you to roll down your window. He tells you that he just came from 69 highway and he needs help paying for gas. For former BV West student Camryn Leiker, this situation became a reality. “I said no and drove off. I didn’t really think anything of it until after I saw a Facebook post where it happened to a girl with the same story,” Leiker said. “I called the police and reported it. They said he might be part of a sex trafficking ring.” Sex trafficking is the act of transporting people illegally to sexually exploit them. The rise of sex trafficking is causing people to become more cautious and scared about their protection.
Human Trafficking
“I think that it needs to be stopped because many women are put in danger and even if nothing occurs, girls are constantly scared to walk around alone,” junior Mckenna Holland said. Kansas is becoming a hub for sex trafficking. This is because of the intersections of the interstate highways that travel north, south, east and west of Kansas. A location that is close to highways makes an ideal place for a sex trafficker.
Who Should you call? National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
Over the past few months, several instances have occurred in the Overland Park area in which a man or woman, believed to be involved in sex trafficking, has approached a girl. On June 8 2019 at the QuikTrip on 151 St., another sex trafficking ploy occurred. A man asked a woman to read his gas gauge because he said he had to travel from Pittsburg, Kan. to Omaha, Neb. to see his mother. Nine days later, on June 17 at the Walmart on 159 St., the same man asked a teenage girl for money, using the same story as before. The police said that this man was potentially involved in sex trafficking and created his cover story to lure girls into his car and abduct them.
*call 911 immediately*
Two different types: Two different types: Sex Trafficking and Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking Labor trafficking
Who’s included? Anyone can become a victim at any moment.