GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Previous NFL Drafts have shown visitors aren’t just traveling to take in the football event, as arrests have been made of people trying to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Next week, Brown County’s board of supervisors will vote on whether to spend $20,000 on combating human trafficking when the NFL Draft comes to Green Bay.
“We’ve never hosted an event this large, so we’re not sure what to expect,” said Kasia Klaus, executive director of Awaken Wisconsin, a nonprofit that aims to raise education and awareness of commercial sexual exploitation while trying to help potential survivors. “What I do know as a community is it’s our responsibility to help vulnerable populations stay safe and to be preventative.”
When a record 775,000 people showed up for the three-day NFL Draft last April in Detroit, law enforcement agencies came together for an undercover sting focused on human trafficking. Three people were arrested, and 14 women asked for emergency services — some admitting they traveled to the area specifically for the draft, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
The previous year, when the draft was in Kansas City, three men were arrested for trying to engage in sexual activity with children, according to the Clay County Sherriff’s Office.
“I think the draft is a great catalyst for talking about it, but the discussions need to follow through after the draft,” said Klaus.
Awaken Wisconsin has teamed up with several other organizations in the area to raise awareness about human trafficking ahead of the NFL Draft.
Half of the $20,000 being sought from Brown County would be used for prevention, and half for providing emergency services for victims like food, clothing, transportation and shelter.
“If you’ve looked at how expensive the hotel rooms are during the draft, it’s insane,” said Klaus. “So, we want to be able to possibly already have a room blocked for just that precautionary period that we can utilize, that law enforcement can utilize.”
The hope is to have enough rooms for five to 10 people if needed, according to Klaus.
“I think the county board needs to be on top of it before any of those tragedies occur,” said Dixon Wolfe, a Brown County supervisor.
Wolfe has been coordinating with Awaken and the other nonprofits on potential funding needs.
“This month is human trafficking prevention month,” said Wolfe. “I think it’s super important we get this passed, that it’s on the front of people’s minds, so they’re able to look out for possibilities of trafficking in the community and prevent it as much as possible.”
Awaken says it averages 5.5 referrals per month for human trafficking victims in need of help in our area. During the draft, the number to call for human trafficking tips or emergency services will be 920-212-SAFE.
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