January is national human trafficking awareness month and the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force( LCSTTF) will be holding an in-person candlelight vigil Monday January 9th between 4:30-5:30 pm at the Two Harbors Law Enforcement Center at 613 3rd ave.
The vigil will be taking place inside the law enforcement center on the ground floor and is open to the public. One of the founding members of LCSTTF, an all volunteer 501c3 organization based out of Two Harbors, Marlys Wisch says, “We really are trying to get the public to join us. Not that they would necessarily join the task force, but they would walk away looking at it in a different light and want to look for the signs, the red flags, that may indicate that trafficking is going on. Both sexual and labor, and report it to somebody. Not turning a blind eye. We want the event to be an intimate experience and have the folks in attendance leave having been able to internalize the feeling of yes I want to help prevent this.”
There will be handouts with more information on resources in the area, Anne Ferrari will be playing harp during the vigil, Kate Cobbs from NorthShore Horizons will be speaking, as well as Marlys, and the president of Lake County Commissioners Rich Sve will be making a proclamation on behalf of the county about national human trafficking awareness.
The vigil is being held to honor the individuals that have died while in the life, people who have survived and come out of the life, and people who are still “in the life” and haven’t been able to get out of it. “We want them to know we have not forgotten them. That we know about them. That we are still doing the work to prevent trafficking and to look for resources for them to be able to get help.” says Marlys. Attendees of the vigil will find a calming and peaceful atmosphere that is both empowering and uplifting.
This is an opportunity that welcomes thoughts, prayers, strength, and resources. “We haven’t been able to really do anything for almost 3 years now because of covid, and I want people to know we have not gone away, that we are still here and still wanting to educate people to help prevent trafficking,” comments Marlys.
Maryls and two other women began their mission back in 2013 to educate citizens of Lake County what sex trafficking is and how to help prevent it. Moving forward in raising awareness through community education, and becoming advocates for victims, they began organizing community presentations, guest speakers, hosting community workshops, candlelight vigils, and conferences.
The Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force works extensively with numerous other organizations, collaborating together on community education and victim resources. There has been a huge growth in regional Restorative Justice programs and the LCSTTF is hoping to team up with these resources in the very near future.
Trafficking is a serious crime that not only hurts the individual and their families, but us as a whole community. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, for example, states on its website that Minneapolis specifically is “one of the top locations in the U.S. for child sex trafficking,” and that trafficking “affects people from all parts of Minnesota”. Sadly, the average age of victims is between 9-13 years of age, disproportionately affecting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), queer and trans youth, and not only include women and girls, but also young boys. Many sex trafficking victims in the US have run away from home or foster homes, or have been thrown out of their homes. Some have aged out of foster care and face unstable housing situations.
Trafficking is a global industry that stems from colonialism, power structures, racism and sexism. Statistics on child sex trafficking show that this has become a huge industry. Worldwide, the International Labor Organization estimates that trafficking is now a $150 billion industry. Roughly $99 million of that is from commercial sex trade, according to an ILO report, while the remaining $51 billion is from forced labor. This is modern-day slavery.
The LCSTTF works closely with several other organizations from the twin cities all the way up to Cook County. “With the education we have done, we have actually had people say to us, ‘I understand more about what it is now, and now I watch.’ So they are paying attention to see what red flags are out there. Being more observant about behaviors and actions going on in the community. We feel very good about that. That people have learned something, and are actually thinking about it and trying to prevent it if they can,” says Marlys.
The internet is one of the most common places traffickers find and trade their victims. There is constant pushback from advocates urging sites to have heavier surveillance to monitor and put an end to this. If you suspect or have any information concerning victims of trafficking, or may be one yourself, please reach out to one of the many agencies that can provide safety and aid. Do not let this abuse continue.
Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force does not provide direct services, but will connect individuals with resources, including: North Shore Horizons, Pavsa (Program to aid victims of sexual assault), Safe Haven, Life House, Violence Prevention Center, Breaking Free based in St Paul, Day One, Minnesota Indian Womens Resource Center, Minnesota Coalition against Sexual Assault, American Indian Community Housing Organization, and The Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse.
There is a national HOTlINE 24/7 to CALL: 1-888-373-7888 or TEXT 233733 All of these organizations provide a vital role in advocating for healthy individuals and healthy communities in this area.
Visit the Lake County Anti-Sex Trafficking Task Force website at www.lcsextrafficking.com. If you would like to donate to this incredible group doing important community education, you can find an option to print a PDF form at the bottom of the website. Simply print this form and send it in with a check made out to the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force to the address provided on-site. With every donation you will receive a receipt and a wonderful thank you letter. The website also has a wealth of resources listed. Not only directories to services, but lists of books, movies, documentaries, informational posters to download, websites and upcoming webinars.
Marlys is grateful to report that people have been able to find the task force and reach out to receive support through both the posters and the website. There is also a Facebook group with information. If you are interested in learning more about the task force or would like to join, please email LCSTTF.info@gmail.com or Call Maryls at (218) 834-5988.
Local contacts for resources:
NORTH SHORE HORIZONS – Two Harbors, Lake County (218) 834-5924
PAVSA (Program to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault), Duluth, MN (218) 726-1931
VIOLENCE PREVENTION CENTER Grand Marais, Cook County (218) 387-1237
