People encouraged to ‘go blue’ in January to raise awareness about serious crime

January is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Each year, agencies across the country use this month to increase awareness about human trafficking and educate the public on how to identify and prevent this crime from continuing in their communities.

The Upstate Human Trafficking Task Force will be implementing “Shine the Light on Human Trafficking Upstate” as the theme of January 2023. They encourage communities and businesses to get involved by using blue lights in storefronts, trees, homes, and buildings to help bring awareness to this crime in our counties and state.

“Join us, help us in spreading the word. It's absolutely happening in our area,” co-chair of the Upstate Human Trafficking Task Force and law enforcement victim advocate Diana Kindley said.

Kindley said it can be difficult for people to pinpoint if a situation is human trafficking. She said if you see something that doesn't look right, listen to your gut and contact authorities.

The number for the National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

In 2012, the South Carolina Legislature created a comprehensive action plan to combat human trafficking in the South Carolina Code, Sections 16-3-2010 through 2090. Provisions in the statute mandate the Attorney General to chair a State Task Force and develop a plan to address Human Trafficking in South Carolina, which was released in 2014. Because the nature of this crime is immensely complex, the State Task Force is comprised of 11 mandated member agencies, nearly 800 individual members, 12 subcommittees, an advisory council, and eight regional task forces.

The Upstate Human Trafficking Task Force was established to serve the counties in Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Pickens and support their efforts of combatting this crime and increasing prevention education.

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