Chattanooga participates in Red Sand Project for human trafficking awareness

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s Human Trafficking Awareness Week and Chattanooga is participating in the Red Sand Project to bring awareness.

During Red Sand events, participants fill sidewalks with red sand to represent those involved in human trafficking, modern day slavery and exploitation.

“So, today we were hosting the red sands events, to bring awareness to human trafficking and the reality of it in our community and the steps that are being taken to prevent it, to fight it and to come alongside survivors and provide services,” said CEO of Willowbend Farms Sarah McKinnis.

According to non-profit ‘Enough is Enough,’ every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide.

In 2021 alone, Tennessee had 217 trafficking victims. And there were over 1,000 victims in Georgia.

McKinnis says it’s urgent that we put an end to the crime that enslaves people both locally and worldwide.

“52 million people are being trafficked in the world today. And I know that there is a large number of that that’s happening right here in our community. And I am a human trafficking survivor. And if I would have had access to the services that we have today, my life and my journey would have been much different,” McKinnis explained.

Mayor Weston Wamp and Mayor Tim Kelly declared July 28 as Human Trafficking Day in Hamilton County.

If you or someone you know has been a victim, contact the Human Trafficking Hotline.

“Well, it’s prevention, education and awareness. You know, having a place for human trafficking, trafficking victims and survivors,” McKinnis added. “A lot of people do not know that they’ve even been trafficked. We don’t go and tell them they’ve been trafficked, but when we do create screenings and we train all the agencies in our community, it means that identification happens quicker. And services are received sooner. And that is the goal.”