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***.
>> MILWAUKEE HAS BEEN THE
HARVARD OF PIMPING.
>> RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A, BY THE
BEST ESTIMATES, $32 BILLION
INDUSTRY.
>>
>> WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL
EDITION OF "BLACK NOUVEAU."
I'M JOANNE WILLIAMS.
THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS WHEN A
PERSON IS CONTROLLED THROUGH
FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION FOR
*** EXPLOITATION OR FORCED
LABOR.
YOU MAY THINK THAT HUMAN
TRAFFICKING OR SLAVERY ENDED
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, BUT IT HAS
NOT.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOW THE
SECOND FASTEST GROWING CRIMINAL
INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND WISCONSIN IS ONE OF THE
LEADING LOCATIONS WHERE CHILDREN
ARE BEING PULLED IN TO THE SEX
TRADE.
LIDDIE COLLINS HAS THIS
INVESTIGATION.
>> I LIKE TO SAY FIRST OF ALL
THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE
UMBRELLA, I LIKE TO REITERATE
THAT AND UNDERNEATH THAT YOU
HAVE CHILD SEX SLAVERY, FARM
WORKERS, DOMESTIC WORKERS AND
SEX SLAVERY WEAVES ITSELF IN AND
OUT OF THAT.
I TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SEX
SLAVERY IS REALLY SOUL
ASSASSINATION.
ALL FORMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING ARE
SOUL ASSASSINATION.
>> JUDGE ME.
>> THIS IS ACTRESS BROOK BELLO,
A HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR
SHE TRAVELS THE COUNTRY SAYING
HER STORY.
>> YOU WERE THE ONE WHO
ABANDONED US.
>> I AFTER YEARS LOST.
ALL THESE TIMES I WAS BEAT UP,
HAD MY TEETH KNOCKED OUT AND
GETTING MY LIFE TOGETHER, I
WOULD BE OUT THERE STRUNG OUT ON
DRUGS.
>> AFTER BEING *** AND
VIOLATED AT HOME, BROOK BELLO
ALONG WITH A FRIEND RAN AWAY.
AN ACT OF SO-CALLED KINDNESS PUT
THEM IN TO THE WORLD OF SEX
TRAFFICKING.
>> THIS COMPANY SEEMED REALLY
NICE.
YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED LIKE WE WERE
HUNGRY, WE WERE, AND THEY
INVITED US TO HAVE SOMETHING TO
EAT AND SO DURING THE LUNCH,
DIDN'T, HE WAS EARLY EVENING, WE
THOUGHT OH WOW, THEY'RE REALLY
NILES.
THEY WERE SO SWEET, THEY SEEMED
LIKE THE SWEETEST PEOPLE ON THE
PLANET AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
LOVE LOOKS LIKE, FLATTERY AND
FALSE SWEETNESS LOOKS AND SEEMS
REAL, SO AFTER THE MEAL, WHICH
WAS A REALLY GREAT MEAL, THEY
SAID SHE HAD SOME CLOTHES FOR
US, AND THINGS TO GIVE U BECAUSE
WE NEEDED A CHANGE OF CLOTHES
AND THEY SAY YOU GO BACK TO OUR
PLACE.
WELL, GULLABLE IN A SENSE, YOUNG
ADOLESCENTS, WE SAID SURE, WE
NEED SOME CLOTHES.
MY BEST FRIEND WHO IS LIKE ME,
WHEN YOU'RE THAT AGE, IT'S LIKE
ONE PERSON, WE SAID YEAH, GREAT
AND WHEN WE WENT THERE, THE
ENERGY WAS KIND OF WEIRD, BUT WE
THOUGHT WE'LL GET THE CLOTHES
AND GET OUT OF HERE AND IT WAS
LIKE THAT MOVIE, THE DEVIL'S
ADVOCATE, THEIR FACES CHANGED,
THEY WENT FROM THE REALLY NICE,
SWEET, GESTICULATIONS TO BEING
THE MOST WICK EVIL PEOPLE YOU
COULD EVER IMAGINE AND THAT'S
WHEN EVERYTHING HAPPENED.
THEY BROUGHT OUT THE ***,
MADE US TAKE DRUGS, AND
EVERYTHING CHANGED FROM THAT
POINT.
I'VE HAD TWO DIFFERENT PIMPS
TRAFFICKERS.
A TRICK IS A TRAFFICKER, A
TRAFFICKER IS A ***.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT JOHNS OR
TRICKS OR PIMPS OR TRAFFICKERS.
THEY'RE ALL THE SAME.
BECAUSE THEY PERPETRATE THE
ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
>> SHE WAS ON THE STREET FROM
THE AGE OF 14 THROUGH HER EARLY
20'S.
>> I WAS SUICIDAL.
EVERY DAY FOR 15 YEARS.
SLEPT IN MY OWN VOMIT.
ADDICTED TO DRUGS FOR A LOT OF
MY LIFE.
I WOULD BE ON MOVIE SETS GOING
BACK TO MY TRAILER ADDICTED TO
DRUGS.
BEHAVIOR OF THIS ORDER IS NOT
KNOWING WHO I WAS.
A LOT OF FEAR, AND INSECURITY.
AND IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF WORK TO
GET TO THIS POINT.
I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DELINEATE THIS, SPEAK TO THIS
CLEARLY.
THIS HAS TAKEN ME TIME AND
THERAPY AND WORK WITH MY PASTOR
AND WORK WITH MY THERAPIST, TO
TRULY GET TO THIS PLACE WHERE I
KNOW WHO I AM.
>> LIKE BELLO, DENISE HARRIS
STARTED ON THE STREETS AT 14
YEARS OF AGE.
>> I WAS COLD AND I NEEDED
SOMEWHERE TO GO AND SLEEP AND I
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING
MYSELF INTO UNTIL IT HAPPENED.
OH, YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD AND HE
LOOKED GOOD TOO.
AND HE WAS A BIG-TIME ***
SELLER, BECAUSE I'M FROM CHICAGO
AND HE WAS A BIG-TIME ***
SEVERAL AND IN MY HEAD I'M
THINKING I HAVE AN OLDER PERSON
AND DOLLAR SIGNS IN MY HEAD AND
I CAN BE ABLE TO GET THIS AND BE
ABLE TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW.
AND WHEN HE CAME TO ME, HE WAS
SMOOTH.
HE WAS SMOOTH.
>> IN THE BOOK BEING "I THOUGHT
I WAS HIS LADY," SURVIVOR THELMA
JONES TELLS HER STORY OF LIFE IN
THE SECTION TRADE.
>> I WORKED IN A DRUGSTORE.
HE WORKED AT A LIQUOR STORE.
AND HE WOULD COME OVER TO THE
LIQUOR STORE, FLIRT WITH ME,
GIVE ME NICE THINGS.
MONEY.
TO GO SHOPPING.
TAKE ME OUT FOR DINNER.
AND I THOUGHT I WAS DATING A
VERY NICE GUY.
HE PROMISED TO MARRY ME.
WE WERE IN A COURTSHIP AND IT
WAS BEAUTIFUL.
HAD NO IDEA THAT IN MY WORLD, HE
WAS THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN, AND
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, HE
OPERATED A PROSTITUTION HOME.
AND ONE TIME HE SAID TO ME, I
WANT TO TAKE YOU TO MEET SOME OF
MY FRIENDS.
AND I NEVER MET HIS FRIENDS.
SO WE WERE INTO THE RELATIONSHIP
MAYBE ABOUT, OH, MAYBE ABOUT A
YEAR OR TWO, AND I MET HIS
FRIENDS, AND HE WAS SAYING TO
ME, YOU CAN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY
AND I WAS LIKE, DOING WHAT?
SELLING MARY KAY OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT OR TUPPERWARE.
HE JUST POLITELY SAID THAT --
[INAUDIBLE]
I WAS ALMOST FLOORED.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT HE WAS
SAYING THAT TO ME AND OF COURSE,
I SAID NO WAY.
IT IS NO WAY.
BUT AFTER SOME KIND OF TALKING
TO ME AND ENCOURAGING ME, I
AGREED, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS
GOING TO BE LIKE SHORT TERM.
>> SCARE LYNN PROPHET WAS ONCE
IT SHALL
>> CAROLYN PROPHET WAS ONCE A
SEX WORKER, BUT NOW WORKS WITH
YOUNG GIRLS WANT TO GO GET OFF
THE STREETS.
>> THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF IT,
BUT THEY'RE AFRAID OF THEIR
FAMILY.
I'M DEALING WITH A PERSONAL ONE
RIGHT NOW IN MY FAMILY AND YOU
CAN GO GET THESE YOUNG GIRLS AND
THESE GUYS MAKE IT SEEM SO REAL
TO THEM, AND MAKE THEM THINK
THAT'S THE ONLY LIFE TO WHERE
THEY GO BACK.
AND EVEN THEIR FAMILIES MAKE
THEM FEEL SO BAD BECAUSE THEY
WAS IN THAT LIFESTYLE.
AND IT MAKES THEM GO BACK.
IT HURTS THEM, AND THEY THINK
THAT THAT'S THE ONLY LIFE THAT
THEY HAVE.
IS TO DO THAT.
>> THESE STORIES ARE REAL.
AND THEY'RE HAPPENING NOW IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 12 OR EVEN
YOUNGER ARE BEING MANIPULATED
AND FORCED IN TO HAVING SEX FOR
MONEY.
CHILDREN UP TO 17 ARE GETTING
CAUGHT IN THIS TRAP TOO.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS MODERN DAY
SLAVERY AND IS HAPPENING
EVERYWHERE.
DETECTIVE DAWN JONES WITH THE
MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS
POLICE THROUGHOUT THE NATION
CONSIDER MILWAUKEE TO BE A
SOURCE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND
ITS VICTIMS.
>> IT IS EVERYWHERE.
IT'S ON THE INTERNET, IT'S ON
THE PHONE, IT'S ON THE FACEBOOK,
IT'S ON THE STREETS.
WE HAVE TRACKS IN MILWAUKEE,
LIKE LISBON AND GREENFIELD AND
NATIONAL, AND NORTH AVENUE, BUT
ANYWHERE, IT COULD BE ANYWHERE,
AND THE MINUTES WE START
FOCUSING ON OK, THIS IS JUST
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE, WE
WILL LOSE SO MANY OTHER
CHILDREN.
BACK IN THE DAY, EVERYBODY WENT
TO BACK PAGE AND CRAIGSLIST
BECAUSE THEY WOULD IDENTIFY THAT
THESE ARE THE PLACES WHERE THE
JUVENILES WERE BEING TRAFFICKED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE INTERNET IS
SO BROAD, NOW THEY'RE EVERYWHERE
ON THE INTERNET.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
SITES THAT THEY CAN BE FOUND ON.
YOU HAVE THE CHAT LINES AND YOU
HAVE THE HOUSES THAT THESE
TRAFFICKERS WILL RUN AND HAVE
CLIENTS COMING TO THE HOUSE TO
PAY FOR THE CHILDREN.
AND THEY WILL TAKE VICTIMS FROM
ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GIRLS FROM ON
ALASKA, LACROSSE, GREEN BAY,
APPLETON, WE JUST HAD HURLEY,
WISCONSIN, THEY'RE FROM
ANYWHERE, SO IF YOU THINK THIS
IS A GENERATIONAL VICTIM, IT'S
NOT A GENERATIONAL VICTIM.
THIS ISN'T A SECOND GENERATION,
THIRD GENERATION YOUNG LADY
THAT -- WHOSE PARENTS WERE DRUG
DEALERS OR DRUG ADDICTS OR
ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION.
THIS IS ANYBODY'S CHILD.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR RACE
IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR
ECONOMIC BACKGROUND IS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE
FROM.
IF THEY THINK THEY CAN MAKE
MONEY OFF YOU, THEY WILL TRAVEL,
THEY WILL PICK YOU UP, AND THEY
WILL TAKE YOU AND THE REASON
THEY TAKE THEM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IS BECAUSE THESE ARE
JUST KIDS.
THEY DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THERE.
>> I SEE A LOT OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE, YOU'RE
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR
TO THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
YOU HAVE A FATHERLESS HOME.
YOU HAVE SOME ABUSE.
IT COULD BE JUST EMOTIONAL
ABUSE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO
GREATER POVERTY THAN EMOTIONAL
POVERTY.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE CUTS
AND BRUISES FOR A CHILD TO BE
MUTILATED PSYCHOLOGYICALLY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF BROKEN
MOTHERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH A
DIVORCE OR BECAME PREGNANT WITH
SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T LOVE THEM
AND SHE'S ALREADY BROKEN.
SHE'S A BROKEN MOMMY WOMAN-CHILD
WHO RAISES A BROKEN CHILD.
THAT'S THE PART OF CLOSURE WHICH
PUSHES YOU TO HAVE A GREATER POE
-- PROPENSITY TO BE
VIOLATED, ***, AND TRAFFICKED.
>> I HAD POLIO AS A KID, AND I
FELT LIKE I DIDN'T FIT, AND I
DID ANY AND EVERYTHING TO MAKE
MYSELF FIT IN.
SO YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT TOOK,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I DID, AND
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AT NOWADAYS,
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T FIT,
AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER
THEY CAN DO TO FIT IN WITH THAT
CROWD THEY WANT TO BE INTO.
>> YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS SAY I
WAS A PROBLEM CHILD.
I WAS LIKE, MOST OF --
>> DID YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A
PROBLEM CHILD.
>> OH, LIKE A BLACK SHEEP.
>> OK.
>> YEAH, I WAS LIKE A PROBLEM
CHILD.
BECAUSE I ALWAYS -- I COULD
NEVER GET IT RIGHT AT SCHOOL.
I ALWAYS HAD AN ANGER PROBLEM.
ALWAYS ACTED OUT.
>> THE TROUBLE YOUTH WHO DOESN'T
FIT IN IS JUST WHAT THE
PREDATOR --
>> OR ALSO KNOWN AS TRAFFICKER
IS LOOKING FOR.
HE ATTACKS THEIR HEART.
>> THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THEIR
ONE TRUE LOVE, SO SLOWLY, THEY
WILL GET THEM TO SKIP OUT OF
SCHOOL, COME HOME LATE, NOT
FOLLOW THE RULES, AND THEN
BECOME MISSING AND AT THAT
POINT, WE'RE ALL FOOLED BECAUSE
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CHILD IS
JUST A TEENAGER THAT'S GONE OFF
THE DEEP END AND DOING WHAT THEY
WANT TO DO AND NOT LISTENING TO
ANYTHING AND WE DON'T IDENTIFY
THAT HEY, THERE'S A PREDATOR
THAT'S INVOLVED HERE, AND THIS
PREDATOR IS NOW COERCING THIS
CHILD TO DO ALL THESE THINGS
THIS CHILD WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO.
>> THESE GUYS GET THEM AND JUST
TEAR DOWN WHAT SELF-ESTEEM THEY
DO HAVE, THEY TAKE IT, THEY
CRUSH IT.
THEY TEAR IT APART.
AND THEY MAKE THEM THINK THAT
THEY'RE THE ONLY THING IN THEIR
LIFE WITHOUT THEY WILL, THEY
HAVE NO LIFE.
THEY HAVE NO LIFE.
YOU KNOW, MY BABY NOW IS IN
MIAMI, AND THIS GUY, HE TOOK
A -- HE TOOK ABOUT 13 GIRLS AWAY
LAST YEAR TO OKLAHOMA AND HAD
THEM -- WAS SELLING THEM, AND
TAKING THE FAMILY DOLLAR, BUY
THEM CHEESY LITTLE OUTFITS, MADE
THEM THINK THEY HAD SOMETHING
AND THIS YOUNG LADY TOLD ME, SHE
SAID, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO
GIVE ME MY MONEY.
AND CALLED ME ON THE PHONE.
I SAID, BABY, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING ABOUT A ***.
A *** DON'T GIVE YOU THAT
MONEY.
YOU MAKING THAT MONEY FOR HIM.
SHE SAID I REALLY THOUGHT HE WAS
GOING TO GIVE US OUR MONEY.
I SAID NO, NO.
AND I GOT THIS PERSON AND
BROUGHT HIM HOME TO WHERE THESE
GUYS RIDE AROUND AND GET THEM.
SHE'S GONE AGAIN.
>> MILWAUKEE HEALTH COMMISSIONER
BEVAN BAKER SAYS HUMAN SEX
TRAFFICKING IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERN.
IT SPREADS DISEASE, BREAKS UP
HOMES AND CREATES VIOLENCE.
>> WE CAN'T LIVE IN THE SHADOWS
AND SAY IT DOESN'T EXIST.
IF YOU HAVE A DISEASE, EVEN ONE
THAT DOCTORS THINK IS INCURABLE,
YOU CAN'T EVEN GET TREATED FOR
THAT DISEASE UNLESS YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE IT AND
I THINK THAT MILWAUKEE CAN AND
SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS
OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE, BUT
FIRST, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT EVERY YOUNG BOY, YOUNG
GIRL, WHO IS ON A STREET CORNER,
WHO GOES TO A MALL, WHO
BEFRIENDS SOMEONE, COULD BE A
VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND
I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE AT WAR
WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING OUR
KIDS, PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES
AND MAKING CERTAIN THAT
MILWAUKEE IS NOT A FEEDING
GROUND FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD.
>> PARENTS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
ONE THING.
YOU HAVE TO SIT YOUR BABIES DOWN
AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T WAIT TILL
THEY GET 17.
THEY TAKING THESE CHILDREN AT
10.
YOU KNOW, AN THEY TURNING THEM
OUT.
THEY NEED TO KNOW.
>> AND OUR HEALTH COMMISSIONER
AGREES AND IS DOING JUST THAT.
>> I HAVE A VERY YOUNG SON, HE
JUST MOVED OUT OF TODDLER STAGE
TO PRIMARY EDUCATION.
I'M HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM
ABOUT THIS WHOLE NOTION OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
NOT ONLY TO BE SAFE, BUT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT AS HE GROWS, AND
AS HE MATRICULATES, HIS FRIENDS,
HIS FRIEND'S FAMILY, THOSE THAT
HE WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH,
COULD BE VICTIMS OF THIS THING,
WHERE SOMEONE WOULD TAKE THEM
AGAINST THEIR WILL AND YOU HAVE
TO ALERT THEM.
YOU HAVE TO ALERT THEM TO THE
WARNINGS, YOU HAVE TO ALERT THEM
TO THE CONCERNS.
HOW CAN MY SON BE SAFE IF HIS
FRIENDS CAN'T BE SAFE IN THIS
CITY?
SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME AS A
FATHER, NOT ABOUT ME HAS A
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
IT'S ABOUT ME EDUCATING EVERY
YOUNG BOY AND EVERY YOUNG GIRL
TO THE ILLS OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
>> FROM TRAFFICKING INVOLVEMENT
SIGNS AND PREVENTION.
>> WHEN THEY COME HOME, WHEN
THEY HAVE NEW ITEMS, NEW
CLOTHES, THEY HAVE THEIR NAILS
DONE, THEIR HAIR DONE, THEY'RE
LEAVING FOR PERIODS OF TIME,
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
CHECKING OUT YOUR CHILD'S STORY.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
SAYING YOU'RE GOING WITH YOUR
FRIEND, LET ME TALK WITH THEIR
PARENTS AND VERIFYING THAT'S
WHERE NEAR GOING TO BE.
WE'RE BEYOND LIVING AT AN AGE
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE OUR
CHILD'S FRIENDS.
WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT OUR
CHILDREN AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED
TO DO AND IF THEY ARE MAD AT US,
THEY'RE MAD AT US, BECAUSE ONCE
THEY GROW UP, THEY'RE GOING TO
UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU TRULY
LOVE THEM BECAUSE YOU WENT 3 ALL
OF THIS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE
STAVE.
>> I CALL THEM YOUNG GIRLS OF
THE NIGHT.
DON'T TALK ABOUT THEM.
SHOW THEM LOVE.
HALF OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, I'M
GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT LOVED
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR, LOVE.
THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY
CARES ABOUT THEM.
AND WHEN THEY GET IN TO THIS
LIFESTYLE, BECAUSE HE MAKE THEM
FEEL LIKE HE CARES.
HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT LOVES
THEM AND WHAT -- HE BRAINWASHING
THEM, BUT THE COMMUNITY GOT TO
LET THEM KNOW, I'M HERE FOR YOU.
>> THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER IN
CINCINNATI, OHIO, USES HISTORY
TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUES.
INVISIBLE SLAVERY TODAY IS A
PERMANENT EXHIBIT AT THE CENTER
THAT FOCUSES ON SEX TRAFFICKING.
>> THE REASON THAT THERE ARE
PIMPS WHO TRAFFIC GIRLS, IS
BECAUSE THERE ARE JOHNS WHO WILL
PAY FOR IT.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE BASIC
EQUATION.
IT SHOULD BE INCUMBENT UPON
ANYBODY WHO IS CONSIDERING
USING -- DOING SOMETHING LIKE
GOING TO A *** TO REALLY
THINK HARD ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE BAITING AND AIDING
SOMEBODY WHO IS BEING FORCED TO
DO THIS, BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE
CREATE DEMAND FOR THAT KIND OF
THING, WE CREATE INCENTIVE FOR
SOMEONE TO CONTROL SOMEONE ELSE
FOR MONEY.
HISTORICALLY, PEOPLE WERE BORN
INTO SLAVERY OR FORCED INTO
SLAVERY IN SOME CAPACITY, THAT
WAS REALLY DIRECT AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND COMPLETELY
AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AGAINST
THEIR WILL.
TODAY, OFTENTIMES, THE SLAVE
RELATIONSHIP STARTS WITH SOMEONE
WANTING A JOB, SOMEONE WANT TO
GO TRY TO BETTER THEMSELVES,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE EVEN MORE
SAD THINGS ABOUT THE REALITY OF
THIS, IS THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR
LIVES BETTER, SOMEONE IS
TRICKING THEM.
AND THEY MIGHT BE VULNERABLE FOR
EMOTIONAL REASONS, THEY MIGHT BE
VULNERABLE FOR POVERTY REASONS,
ECONOMIC REASONS, THEY MIGHT BE
VULNERABLE FOR PHYSICAL REASONS,
BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG OR LOOKING
FOR SOME OTHER REASON, BUT IT'S
SOMEONE WHO THEY BELIEVE THEY
CAN OVERPOWER AND CONTROL AND
EXPLOIT, AND WHEN THERE ARE MORE
PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING, WHO ARE WILLING TO
TAKE A FLYER ON AN IDEA THAT
SEEMS PROBABLY WRONG, BUT
SOMEONE PROMISING THEM A JOB, IT
SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE OR
DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE OR
REQUIRES THAT THEY MOVE
SOMEWHERE, THAT'S THE KIND OF
METHODS THAT LOT OF THESE
TRAFFICKERS USE.
THE THING ABOUT THE TRAFFICKERS,
THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY
SOPHISTICATED AT CONTROLLING
PEOPLE, REALLY GOOD AT IT, AND
EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT THINK,
YEAH, I WOULD RUN AWAY FROM THAT
SITUATION, EASILY, OF COURSE, I
WOULD RUN AWAY IN A HEARTBEAT,
AS SOON AS THE GUY TURNED HIS
BACK, I WOULD RUN AWAY, BUT THE
REALITY IS WHEN YOU TALK TO
THESE PEOPLE AND WOMEN AND MEN
AND YOU TALK TO THE SITUATIONS
THEY ARE IN, FOR ALL SORTS OF
REASONS, RUNNING AWAY DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE AN OPTION AND IT MAKES
IN MANY CASES SOMEBODY ELSE
NOTICE, PAYING ATTENTION AND
OFFERING THEM A HANDOUT.
>> AND WHAT CAN WE DO?
>> STARTS WITH WHEN YOU SEE
SOMEONE WHO YOU THINK IS DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF
THEIR SITUATION, DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE THEY'RE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM
WHAT EAR DOING, SEEMS TRAPPED,
CALL THIS POLAIIS PROJECT HOT
LINE, CALL 1-888-373-7888.
TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO THAT
WE'RE STARTING TO GIVE PEOPLE A
WAY OUT.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE VIV, VERY,
VERY FIRST STEP THAT'S HAPPENED.
PEOPLE NEED A WAY OUT OF THIS
SITUATION, BECAUSE NONE OF US
CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
BE IN A TRULY ENSLAVED
SITUATION.
BUT BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE,
TELL THEIR STORIES, IT'S TRULY
HORRIFYING.
>> AND OUR SURVIVORS STORY OF
ESCAPE REFLECT THAT HORROR.
>> I FINALLY ESCAPED.
I WAS IN THE CAR, AND HE WAS
MAKING -- HE HAD BEEPERS BACK
THEN, SO YOU KNOW, THE PAGERS,
AND HE WENT TO GO TO THE PHONE
BOOTH TO MAKE THE CALL, AND WHEN
HE MADE THAT CALL, THAT'S WHEN
HE MADE THAT CALL, SOMEBODY CAME
UP AND DID A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING,
AND I WAS IN THE CAR, AND I RAN.
I RAN.
I KEPT RUNNING.
>> THELMA JONES MADE HER ESCAPE
BY LEAVING A NOTE IN A
RESTAURANT BATHROOM.
THAT NOTE WAS FOUND BY AN
OFFDUTY OFFICER, WHO HAD STOPPED
FOR COFFEE.
>> HE ALREADY TOLD ME, IF YOU
SAY ANYTHING TO THE WAITRESS OR
WAITER, I WILL BLOW YOUR BRAINS
OUT AND HE ALREADY TOLD ME HE
HAD HIS GUN, HE ALWAYS KEPT A
GUN.
SO I LEFT A NOTE IN THE
BATHROOM, I SAID MY NAME IS
THELMA, AND I'M BEING KIDNAPPED
AGAINST MY WILL FOR HUMAN SEX
TRAFFICKING, I SAID PROSTITUTION
AND JUST AS HE GOT READY TO
HANDCUFF ME BACK TO THE STEERING
WHEEL, OFFICERS APPEARED AND
ORDERED US TO GET OUT OF THE
CAR.
AND SO THAT'S WHEN THE F.B.I.
GOT INVOLVED, THE U.S. MARSHAL.
>> AS OF LAST YEAR, THERE'S A
LAW IN EVERY SINGLE STATE
AGAINST HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING,
WHICH SPECIFICALLY CALLS IT OUT
AS A CRIME AND HAS SPECIFIC
PENALTIES FOR HUMAN SEX
TRAFFICKING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOLVED
BECAUSE IT BECOMES A MORAL
IMPERATIVE FOR EVERY PERSON IN
THE WORLD TO SAY, I WON'T ACCEPT
THIS.
AND WE AREN'T THERE YET OR EVEN
CLOSE IT IT, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW IT EXISTS, AND WHEN
PUBLIC PRESSURE RISES TO A LEVEL
WHERE THERE'S A UNANIMOUS VOICE
AROUND THE WORLD SAYING WE WILL
NOT STAND FOR THIS ANYMORE, I
THINK THAT'S WHEN WE'LL GET TO
THE POINT WHERE -- AND HERE'S
HOW WE WANT YOU TO DEAL WITH
THIS, THAT'S WHEN I THINK WE'LL
GET TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S NOT
GOING TO BE AS PROFITABLE FOR
THESE TRAFFICKERS WHO OPERATE
ANYMORE.
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A, BY ITS
BEST ESTIMATES, $32 BILLION
INDUSTRY.
IT IS THE SECOND, I THINK, OF
THE MOST RECENT STYLINGS OF
THIS, THE SECOND MOST PROFITABLE
ILLICIT INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD
AFTER DRUGS.
APPARENTLY THIS SURPASSED
ILLEGAL WEAPON TRADE AS THE
SECONDMOST PROFITABLE ELICIT
ENTERPRISE IN THE WORLD.
THE ONLY WAY THE GUYS STOP IS
THE RISK OF THEM GETTING
ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED IS
HIGHER THAN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THEY CAN MAKE.
RIGHT NOW THE BALANCE IS IN
FAVOR OF THEM MAKING MORE MONEY.
SO WE HAVE TO FLIP THAT.
THEY SHOULD BE MORE SCARED OF
BEING OSTRACIZED FROM THEIR
COMMUNITY.
THAT SHOULD BE A SERIOUS CONCERN
OF THEIRS AND THAT'S WHERE WE
HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD GLOBALLY.
>> AROUND THE COUNTRY, AGENCIES,
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND POLICE
DEPARTMENTS HAVE STEPPED UP
THEIR VIGILANCE TOWARDS SEX
TRAFFICKING.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT ATTACKS OUR
CHILDREN.
MILWAUKEE HAS JOINED IN THE
BATTLE WITH THE FORMATION OF THE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE OF
GREATER MILWAUKEE.
>> WE STRONGLY BELIEVE AND WE
EXIST TO ERADICATE HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
IT'S NO LONGER HIDDEN IN PLAIN
SIGHT IN MILWAUKEE.
AS A TASK FORCE, WE'RE COMING
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY, AND
THE SURROUNDING AREAS, KENOSHA,
RACINE, WE'RE COMING IN AND WE
ARE COORDINATING OUR SERVICES SO
THAT WHEN A PERSON IS TRAFFICKED
AND THEY -- WE BECOME -- IT
BECOMES KNOWN TO US, THEN THEY
HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE NEEDS
ARE.
WE'RE WANTING TO GET THE STRONG
MESSAGE OUT, TELLING THE TRUTH
AROUND SEX WORKERS, AND THE
AVENUES INTO BEING TRAFFICKED,
THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, WE'RE
WANTING THE COMMUNITY TO BE
INFORMED.
AND THEN LEGISLATION OR POLICY
CHANGES, REALLY, WE'RE REALLY
THE -- A FORCE BEHIND SOME OF
THE LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING ON.
AND THOSE THAT KNOW POLITICS AND
POLICIES, THEY'RE DOING THEIR
THING AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM.
WE CARE ABOUT THE PERSON THAT IS
THE VICTIM, WE BELIEVE THAT SHE
WILL BE STRONG.
WE'RE -- WE EXIST FOR HER.
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO
ERADICATE THIS EPIDEMIC IN
THUNDERSHOWER COMMUNITY.
-- IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> PUBLIC AWARENESS IS THE KEY
TO STOPPING SEX TRAFFICKING.
THE MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAS TRAINED ITS OFFICERS TO
IDENTIFY THE SIGNS OF SOMEONE
WHO IS BEING TRAFFICKED.
AND HAVE ASSIGNED OFFICERS
SOLELY TO THAT CRIME AREA.
THE COMMUNITY CAN ASSIST THE
POLICE IN PROTECTING OUR
CHILDREN BY PICKING UP THE
PHONE.
>> DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL, YOU
KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT 100% SURE,
YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND WE
CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OUT
THERE.
DO NOT CONFRONT THEM.
THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS PEOPLE.
CALL THE POLICE.
THE BEST THING IS KEEP YOUR EYES
OPEN.
DOCUMENT LICENSE PLATES, IF YOU
CAN GET PHOTOS WITHOUT THEM
SEEING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO.
WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THEM AT, THE
TIME OF DAY YOU'RE SEEING THEM
THERE.
THE YOUNG LADIES AND YOUNG MEN
THAT ARE WITH THEM, AND WHAT
THEY'RE DOING, BEING ABLE TO GET
THAT INFORMATION SO THAT MAYBE
WE CAN CATCH THEM IN THE ACT
WOULD BE INVALUABLE.
THERE'S NO GLORY TO BE WON HERE
EXCEPT FOR THE SAVING OF THE
CHILDREN.
AND THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO
THAT IS BY WORK TOGETHER AND
TALKING TOGETHER AND NOT BEING
AFRAID TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND
SAY WHAT'S RIGHT.
>> THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING RINGS ARE
PREYING ON OUR CHILDREN.
I HOPE YOU SHARE THE INFORMATION
WE'VE GIVEN IN THIS PROGRAM.
THIS EPIDEMIC CAN BE STOPPED.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.