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Blog at Truckers
Against
Trafficking | |
If you haven't already,
It tells what we're
involved in and where we're speaking.
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As seen on our Facebook page... | |
We asked, "What made you become a trucker against traffikcing or a supporter of TAT?"
"I always thought they were walking the lots and knocking doors because it was their choice. Many girls and women have knocked on our door all hours day or night. I used to refer to them as "Lot Lizards." I no longer refer to them as being that. They are mothers, daughters, sisters who are loved and are missed. My eyes and heart was opened when I first seen a TAT brochure laying on the counter at a truck stop. My heart now breaks for these women and very young girls who are forced into this slavery and bondage. Thank you for bringing awareness to us. God bless you for helping put these pimps behind bars and for helping these women suffering from this horrendous crime."
"I thought that "lot lizards" did it by choice...you opened up my eyes to the reality of the situation...I thank you for that...I am a big supporter of TAT now."
"...I didn't understand the truth behind the lot lizards until recently, and in my past I had someone try to force me into a similar situation, and it was really scary trying to get away from that, so I really feel for all those girls now. God bless TAT. I wish there would have been someone there to help me years ago."
"If I can help just one victim someday because I know who to refer them to or I can help with awareness, then maybe someday, human trafficking will be a thing of the past."
"I am a HUGE advocate of the fight against human trafficking, and you guys are a fantastic organization that are literally on the frontlines of the battle every single day. So God bless you and I'll not stop being a supporter!" |
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THANK YOU!!! | |
TAT would like to say thank you to Brenny Transportation for raising $700 for TAT during the month of May!
TAT would also like to say a big thank you to Lone Mountain Truck Leasing who donated $2151 to TAT through their Facebook page!
Your donations and fundraising efforts on behalf of TAT are what make our efforts possible. |
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As seen in the Washington Times... | |
TAT was included in an article in the Washington Times on June 12. The article talked about the increase of the number of calls to the National Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888), managed by Polaris Project. Here's a quick excerpt from the article:
"The report said truckers 'are one of the main sources of information for the hotline about situations of sex trafficking involving minors.' Truckers, who often are approached by minors at truck stops, made 185 hotline calls in 2011. The report notes that many truckers are aware of the hotline because of a campaign by a group called Truckers Against Trafficking."
Way to go truck drivers! You are the eyes and ears of our nation's highways and YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!! |
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Did you know?? | |
TAT's Everyday Heroes poster was included on page 391 of the U.S. Government's 2012 Trafficking in Persons report! |
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Hello friends and supporters,
Summer is upon us, a time for rest and relaxation for many, but the fight against human trafficking never rests, not while men and women are being held against their will and subjected to the will of others. TAT continues raising awareness about human trafficking, and is continually amazed at all our wonderful supporters and partners who are on the front lines of our nation's highways striving to end this horrendous crime. Thank you for your support.
Truckers Against Trafficking |
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 Fun, Food and Facts Featured at Joint TAT/TA Trucker Appreciation Event
From the bluegrass band Outta the Blue to Smoke Shack bar-be-que to the Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) table and information, truckers at the May 23 Trucker Appreciation event at the Knoxville TA, located at Exit 369 off I-40, had plenty to pick from.
The event, held jointly by TAT and TA, kicked off earlier than anticipated when over 900 veteran bikers from 9-11 Rolling Thunder drove in on their way to Washington D.C. for a nationwide Memorial Day biker event. But, the rest of the day was for and about truckers.
Kendis Paris, TAT national director, along with Sam Smith, TAT board member and owner of the TA where the event was held, estimate more than 200 drivers attended the event. Some of them learned about TAT for the first time. "Others had already heard of us," Paris said, "and even had our wallet card with them. One professional driver pulled out a TAT wallet card and told us he'd received his on the Texas/Mexico border from the United States Department of Transportation ... I love hearing things like that."
Paris said a number of drivers let her know about potential human trafficking situations they were aware of and some told her they regularly make calls to the national human trafficking hotline.
Steve Ferraro and his family from Not For Sale, an anti-human trafficking group, helped work the TAT table, as did Christi Wigle, executive director of the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking in Tennessee, and one of her volunteers.
"We were thrilled and honored to host the first, and hopefully annual, Everyday Hero event for TAT," Smith said. "Our nation's professional drivers are the front-line defense for fighting the awful battle of child trafficking. In many cases, these drivers may be the only hope of rescue for these vulnerable children. It is a privilege to help facilitate awareness amongst the truck driver community, justice for the perpetrators, and restoration to the victims."
"We're looking forward to recreating more of these events across the nation," said Paris, "as they give us a chance to thank drivers for their hard work and efforts to fight human trafficking as well provide us an opportunity to tell others about TAT for the first time."
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TAT Speaks at Tennessee Trafficking in America Conference
TAT's Social Media Coordinator, Kylla Leeburg, spoke at the Tennessee Trafficking in America Conference on May 25. Yvonne and Marion Williams, who made the film, A Dance for Bethany, put on the conference and invited the Executive Director of the Coalition Againist Women in Trafficking International (CATW International), Norma Ramos, to be the key note speaker. Both Ramos and Dr. Laura Lederer, the former senior advisor on human trafficking at the State Department, spoke highly of the work TAT has accomplished, including the creation of a model for the transportation industry in the fight against human trafficking.
For more information about the conference, go to their website at http://traffickinginamericaconference.info/.
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Iowa 80 Truckstop Joins Fight Against Human Trafficking
Iowa 80 Truckstop, the World's Largest Truckstop, has joined forces with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to raise awareness about human trafficking among professional drivers and expand its employee training program with regard to this issue. "The management of Iowa 80 Truckstop has taken a very studied approach to human trafficking and has concluded Iowa 80, as a prominent organization in the trucking industry, can play a pivotal role in the fight against this crime," commented Kendis Paris, TAT national director. "We are thrilled to have them on board with TAT." Professional drivers are encouraged to pick up a TAT wallet card at Iowa 80 Truckstop, which provides red flags to look for if trafficking is suspected, specific information to note for law enforcement and the national hotline number to call with the tip.
Iowa 80 Truckstop also now includes general training about human trafficking and TAT resource materials to all company employees.
"We have always trained our employees to be aware of people in our facility who may need assistance," said Delia Moon Meier, Iowa 80 Truckstop senior vice president. "Our employees, customers and business partners can all play a role in helping those who need it and save lives." She continued, "We're proud to support TAT's work and do our part to end human trafficking. The trucking industry is full of caring people who we believe can make a real difference."
TAT is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating, equipping, empowering and mobilizing the trucking industry to fight human trafficking. Its resources include a website, a trucking-industry-specific training DVD, webinars, posters, speakers/trainers and more. More information is available at www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com. Back to top |
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Former Victim Says There's a Huge Link Between Child Sexual Abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation
Kate Price, MA, project associate at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at the Wellesley Centers for Women, was sexually abused by multiple members of both sides of her family as a young child. Her father then began selling her to outsiders for sexual favors to support his addictions. She grew up along I-80 in Pennsylvania, and the majority of her father's "business" with her was with truckers.
"I'm so thankful there's an organization like Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) fighting human trafficking," Price said. "It's wonderful to know such an organization exists and that truckers are working together to stop this from going on."
Price now speaks at numerous venues on child prostitution and developing relational skills and capacities with children who have experienced physical and emotional trauma. She states that 60 percent of sexually exploited children have been sexually abused. The sexual abuse makes them vulnerable to re-victimization. Seventy percent of adult and juvenile prostitutes, she continues, cite child sexual abuse as heavily affecting involvement in prostitution.
A social scientist specializing in the cultural constructions of childhood, Price relates that fear and control keep sexually abused or prostituted children from leaving or letting on they're scared.
"Prostituted children know they're trapped and will be harmed if they try to leave," she explains. "Exploited children are often drugged or forced to drink alcohol, as I was, so they may act differently than the way they truly feel. And, finally, truthfully, they learn how to make people finish faster, so acting like you're getting into it gets it over quicker."
As she grew up, Price got the courage to confront her father and told him she wanted it to stop. Since he told her he loved her, she figured he'd stop and the family could go on being a family. Instead, he left, divorced her mother and married his mistress. Price believes her mother, who never acknowledged the abuse directly, probably knew it was going on but wasn't able to protect her daughter when she was small, because they were in a domestic violence situation. But after her father left and then tried to return, the mother refused to allow him to come back.
Price wants members of the trucking industry to know, "The trucking industry is the eyes and ears of America's highways, so your potential for impact and hope is huge. As TAT advocates, if you suspect you're witnessing trafficking activity, or if a child knocks at your door, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Your information can stop or has stopped child prostitution rings throughout the country. Also, if you can give a child even two minutes of safety, it will be appreciated. Men often did that for me ... men who couldn't go through with it, but acted like they did to save face ... even this moment of caring, where they just let me sit there and did nothing to me, is appreciated."
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What is TAT?
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is a non-profit organization that exists to educate, equip, empower and mobilize the trucking industry to combat human trafficking as part of their regular jobs. To a great extent, domestic sex trafficking occurs along our nation's highways and at its truck stops, where traffickers can sell their victims to a transient population they believe are less likely to attempt rescue. In response, TAT is asking the 3.5 million domestic truckers, as well as other members of the trucking industry, to become aware of this issue, and, when they suspect a human trafficking case, to call the national hotline and report it.
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