READING, Pa. – The cracks in these sidewalks are easy to overlook, but Thursday morning, they were filled with red sand to symbolize the people who too often fall through the cracks of society and become vulnerable to human trafficking.
“This is the type of thing that we need to bring awareness to the cause, to the problem,” said Lieutenant Nelson Ortiz.
The Berks County District Attorney’s Office Victim and Witness Assistance Unit and The Children’s Alliance Center hosted the Red Sand Project on this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
They say more than 27 million people are trapped into forced labor worldwide, while another 6 million people are victims of forced commercial sexual exploitation.
“These are not just numbers. They represent individuals whose lives have forever been changed by exploitation,” said organizers.
The red sand also symbolizes structural inequities that can make someone vulnerable to exploitation, like the misconception that human trafficking doesn’t happen here.
“Human trafficking exists right here in Pennsylvania, right here in Berks County. It occurs in our neighborhoods, hotels, businesses, online, and sometimes within our schools,” said District Attorney John Adams.
The Berks County Human Trafficking task force says the best prevention is awareness and education.
Adams says predators often use social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms to target vulnerable people.
“Parents should know what their children are doing online,” said Adams.
The District Attorney says if you see something, say something.
“A single report could lead to the rescue of someone who has lost hope,” he added.
Organizers say they hope filling in these cracks will keep people from falling through them.