Posted: 03/21/2011
Last Updated: 21 hours and 22 minutes ago
DRUMRIGHT, Okla. - Oklahoma's truck stops and rest stops sit at the crossroads of America's interstate system. And they've become a hot spot for human trafficking.Last Updated: 21 hours and 22 minutes ago
A new program is helping some truck drivers become equipped with the knowledge to fight it.
After a four week truck driving course, student drivers at Central Tech in Drumright are ready to hit the road. But before they go, they have one more lesson to learn.
"This is an epidemic that's starting out there. It's been there for a long time, but a lot of people don't know a lot about it," said Mark Brown, assistant director of truck driver training, at their last class.
Brown is preparing students for more than driving. He's teaching them how to spot human trafficking.
"I think if we save one child guys, one child, I think we've done our job," he said.
Armed with a video and wallet cards from a group called Truckers Against Trafficking, Brown is fighting what he says he's seen himself at truck stops across the country-- girls, boys and women being sold for sex.
"We have to get the word out," Brown said. "And what better way to do it then with students that are just going into the field."
His students are mothers and fathers, even grandfathers themselves.
"So us being more aware would change it dramatically. Like one of the teachers said, just saving one child's life could be something that you'd never forget," said student Richard Sutherland.
"It's very emotional. I got chills and goosebumps thinking about how anybody could do that to any child," said student Laura Kaylor.
Kaylor says she's also seen human trafficking at truck stops.
"It made me think if anybody got a hold of my stepdaughter, I'd have to hurt somebody. Because my stepdaughter means the world to me."
Now she knows all it takes is an extra set of eyes to notice the red flags. And the courage to make a phone call. A national hotline puts truck drivers in touch with law enforcement, who will take on the investigation from there.
"I"d let them know where I'm at, what I'm seeing. And do the best to get them all the information that they need in order to get that person and put them behind bars where they need to be at. And get the child, or lady home to their families," Kaylor said.
Brown hopes this short, but powerful lesson about human trafficking will become a staple of truck driving courses across the country.
"It's somebody's child. Somebody's daughter, somebody's son, somebody's grandson, daughter, cousin, whatever the case may be. That child does not have to be treated that way," he said.
Truckers can reach the national hot line to report human trafficking at 1-888-373-7888. You can learn more about spotting the red flags by visiting the Truckers Against Trafficking web site by clicking the link below.
www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com
Source: kjrh.com
Truckers learn signs to spot, report human trafficking
No comments:
Post a Comment