'Day of Action' to Highlight Human Trafficking in Riverside County

Volunteers will be fanning out across Riverside County on Saturday to raise awareness about human trafficking and how to stop it.

The “Day of Action” campaign will include the distribution of fliers in the Riverside metropolitan area, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula and parts of the Coachella Valley.

Sheriff’s Sgt. John Sawyer said volunteers will be placing anti-human trafficking posters in airports, adult book shops, bus stops, hospital emergency rooms, rest stops, truck stops and liquor stores.

Under legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2012, these and other locations are required to post notices detailing the consequences of sex and labor trafficking and how victims can get help.

Riverside County prosecutors have filed a number of human trafficking- related cases in the last few years, mainly in connection with the use of underage girls as prostitutes.

Since 2010, the county has had an active Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, staffed by sheriff’s deputies, Riverside and Hemet police officers, FBI agents, as well as federal and county prosecutors.

Saturday’s outreach effort is being coordinated by Operation SafeHouse of Riverside, which provides shelter and counseling services for troubled youth.

Sawyer said more volunteers are needed to assist with the public awareness campaign. Anyone interested in donating their time can contact Fonda McGensy at (951) 351-4418, or Mary Battin at (760) 567-9421.

The staging areas for the campaign are Operation SafeHouse, 9685 Hayes St., Riverside; Southwest Community Church, 44-175 Washington St., Indian Wells; and Calvary Murrieta Church, 24225 Monroe Ave., Murrieta.

Volunteers will meet at each location at 9 a.m.

--City News Service; image via Shutterstock

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