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Human Trafficking in the News
Panama City police help bust multi-state human trafficking ring
A joint-investigation performed by Panama City Police and the FBI has ended with the arrest of a Pensacola man and the dismantling of a human trafficking ring. 
 
Judge sentences sex trafficker to more than 26 years in prison
A convicted sex trafficker whose victim told hospital personnel in late 2015 that she'd "rather die than keep going back to that man" was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland to 26 years and eight months in federal prison.
 
'Operation Broken Heart': 38 suspected child sex offenders arrested in Aurora 
Police say more than three dozen suspected online child sex offenders were arrested in Aurora during "Operation Broken Heart." The nationwide operation was led by the US Department of Justice and resulted in nearly 1,700 arrests during April and May.
Mid-Atlantic Coalition Build strong on results
 At the Mid-Atlantic Coalition Build, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (left) spoke with Maryland State Police outside the Freedom Drivers Project.
Attracting 95 representatives from DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Coalition Build, held Aug. 1 in Hanover, Maryland, rendered strategic results for Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). Partnering with three national associations, two state associations, the Maryland Attorney General's Office, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the Maryland Department of Transportation to host this training event, TAT concluded the event couldn't have gone better.
 
"The Mid-Atlantic Coalition Build was a great example of what can happen when a diverse group of individuals, representing various sectors in law enforcement, government and the transportation industry, come together to leverage their influence and resources to combat human trafficking," Esther Goetsch, TAT Coalition Build director, stated. "The discussion at the end of the meeting was lively, honest and informative, and I think we'll see many doors for TAT and Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) open throughout the country as a result of the meeting."
 
Director Tom Kean (left), Office of Safety Programs, FMCSA, USDOT, and Administrator Raymond Martinez, FMCSA, USDOT, shared a lighter moment as they listened to presentations at the Mid-Atlantic Coalition Build.  
Already the Pennsylvania and DC attorney's general offices are interested in co-hosting Coalition Builds in 2020; additional speaking opportunities for TAT are emerging through the FMCSA, the Maryland Human Trafficking Investigators Seminar and the National Sheriff's Association Annual Conference; the Public Service Commission of Maryland wants to partner with TAT and BOTL to distribute materials to the bus industry and other transportation sectors they regulate; and the Maryland State Department of Education is considering introducing BOTL to all school bus drivers statewide."
 
Thomas Keane, director of the Office of Safety Program for the FMCSA, said, "I leave today feeling both sad at the realities of how prevalent this crime is, but also hopeful, because I know exactly what my agency can do to combat it."
TAT's partner in Mexico releases 
an industry-specific training film

Consejo Ciudadano, TAT's partner in Mexico, created a program, Guardianes Del Asfalto, which is replicated on TAT's model of working with private industry in the fight against human trafficking. They have just released their first 12-minute, industry-specific training film . Guardianes del Asfalto is a program of Consejo Ciudadano, a Mexican NGO dedicated to serving the citizens of Mexico through a series of socially responsible programs. Guardianes del Asfalto started in December 2017 and consists of online training for members of the Mexican trucking, bus and taxi industries. The training film defines human trafficking and provides red flags to watch out for and actions to take if human trafficking is suspected. They also have wallet cards with red flag indicators of human trafficking available for members of the transportation industry.   

Freedom Drivers Project draws large audience 
at the Iowa State Fair

TAT continues to draw large crowds 
at the 2019 Great American Trucking Show

Thanks to the generous donation of space for the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) by Randall Reilly, Truckers Against Trafficking drew a sizeable crowd at the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas Aug. 22-24.
 
Volunteers from Omnitracs, BNSF Logistics and Walmart helped TAT staff pass out materials to GATS attendees.
"We had an amazing time with our volunteers from Omnitracs, BNSF Logistics and Walmart, who helped hand out over 10,000 wallet cards to attendees and companies and encouraged 1,210 people to walk through the Freedom Drivers Project," said Susan Dold, TAT systems administrator. "We can't do what we do without the support of everyone in the trucking industry, and now there are more people out there aware of the realities of domestic sex trafficking, the signs to look for and the knowledge to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline if they see it."
Megabus tickets available to help 
support trafficking victims


Upcoming Events

Sept. 1 - Nebraska State Fair, Lincoln, NE, FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, attending

Sept. 5 - Maine Chiefs of Police, Sugarloaf, ME, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Annika Huff, TAT field trainer and survivor-advocate, presenting

Sept. 5 - Ohio Department of Public Safety Train the Trainer, Louie Greek, TAT training specialist, presenting

Sept. 10-11 - Montana Highway Patrol Training, Billings, MT, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, and Annika Huff, TAT field trainer and survivor-advocate, and Louie Greek, TAT training specialist, presenting

Sept. 11  - Whiting Petroleum All-State Safety Conference, Williston, ND, FDP, Ashley Smith, TAT director of energy operations, and Susan Dold, TAT systems administrator, attending

Sept. 19-20 - UPS Chicago, Chicago, IL, FDP attending

Sept. 19-20 - FourKites Visibility Conference, Chicago, IL, Laura Cyrus, TAT corporate engagement director, presenting

Sept. 19 - Alabama Attorney General Law Enforcement Summit, Montgomery, AL, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting

Sept. 20 - Alabama Community College and Tech School instructor training, Montgomery, AL, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting

Sept. 23-26 - Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Biloxi, MS, Kylla Lanier, TAT deputy director, presenting and Louie Greek, TAT training specialist, and Heather Papay, TAT Canada director, attending

Sept. 24 - West Virginia Trucking Association Annual Convention, Roanoke, WV, Molly Griffiths, TAT administrative specialist, presenting

Sept. 25 - Ohio TA Headquarters meeting, Cleveland, OH, Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, presenting

Sept. 26 - Collaborative to End Human Trafficking Annual Luncheon, Cleveland, OH, Kendis Paris, TAT executive director, keynote speaker

Sept. 24-25 - N2Publishing and N2Gives, Wilmington, NC, FDP and Helen Van Dam, FDP director, presenting

Sept. 26 - New Jersey Coalition Build, Union, NJ, FDP and Esther Goetsch, TAT Coalition Build director, Annie Sovcik, BOTL director, and Beth Jacobs, TAT field trainer and survivor-advocate, presenting
TAT's work is made possible through the generous support of our corporate sponsors, foundation partners and individual donors. Our education, training, legislative engagement, and advocacy efforts would not exist without those who invest in the change that we work towards each day. If you are interested in learning more about how you can provide financial support, please visit our corporate engagement webpage 
or contact Laura Cyrus at 612-888-4828 or lcyrus@truckersagainsttrafficking.org to explore our giving opportunities.
Thank you to our copper level and above individual donors!
Diamond:
Douglas Kegler
Platinum:
Anonymous
Gold:
Andy and Karin Larsen
Silver: 
Lou and Ronda Leeburg, Anna McCoy, Scott and Terry Koch
Bronze: 
Scott Perry,  Mark and Julie Mihevc,  Dan and Emily Dykstra, Michael Mowat and Janet Runbeck
Copper:
Grayling Klunker,  George Cravens,   Wayne Watkins,  Lindsey England,  Karen Rasmussen,  Patti Gillette,  Courtney Hill,  John McKown,  Don Blake, George Bunker, Todd Miller
Truckers Against Trafficking 
PO Box 816 | Englewood, CO 80151
tat.truckers@gmail.com

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