Modern-day slavery still exists - in the form of human trafficking. Each year, thousands of immigrants are brought to the United States against their will and forced to work in unimaginable conditions. I joined Councilmember Tony Cardenas, members of the LA County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Lee Baca, and Chief William Bratton in marking the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness, a day dedicated to raising awareness about a problem little noticed by the public. Los Angeles has been a pioneer in combating the practice of human trafficking: our metropolitan task force is the first of its kind, a joint effort of law enforcement and community-based organizations, working together to assist victims and prosecute offenders. Furthermore, we are the first city in the nation to have a shelter dedicated solely to trafficking victims.
You can learn more by visiting the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) website. To report human trafficking, call the hotline at (800) 655-4095.
