Courtesy of fwcat.org
A photo from the Federal Way
Coalition Against Trafficking website. The organization is dedicated to
raising awareness and reducing demand for sex trafficking in Federal Way
and South King County.
Federal Way Mirror Editor
January 4, 2013 · Updated 12:08 PM
With a dense population near
90,000 and a spectrum of socioeconomic conditions, Federal Way provides
the perfect storm for human trafficking.
Victims defy stereotypes. They come from
foster homes and so-called “normal” homes. Vulnerable young women with
self-esteem issues typically fall for the romantic advances of pimps,
who then manipulate victims into a sordid life of forced prostitution
and labor.
“Just drive up from 320th Street to 272nd
Street,” said Det. Brian Taylor of the King County Sheriff’s Office,
referring to the prostitutes who walk that stretch of Highway 99.
Taylor is also a Federal Way resident who
works with the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force. He co-founded the
Genesis Project to rescue young women from sex trafficking in the South
King County area and help rebuild their lives. The Seattle area ranks
among the top in the world for sexual exploitation of minors.
“It can happen to any girl,” said Taylor, adding that a large number of juvenile prostitution victims come from Federal Way.
In recent years, Washington state has
adopted tougher penalties for pimps and sex traffickers. Taylor pointed
to last year’s sentencing of D’Marco Mobley, a notorious pimp who
received 37 years in prison, as a milestone in the effort to deter such
crimes.
“What the pimps are doing to these young
girls is akin to murder because they’re murdering their spirit,” said
Taylor, himself a father of a teenage daughter. “It ends up in a vicious
cycle and their life goes down the tube.”
The movement to end human trafficking is
gaining momentum. The Federal Way Coalition Against Trafficking (FWCAT)
was established in 2011 by local volunteers to eliminate a problem that
affects all ages and backgrounds.
Awareness is key to reducing the number
of victims. FWCAT volunteers have worked in Federal Way schools —
including Thomas Jefferson High School and Sacajawea Middle School —
with a program called “Deceptions.” FWCAT co-founder Brenda Oliver is on
a mission to extend the organization’s reach to parents across the
city. Another goal is to involve Federal Way businesses in spreading
awareness of a problem that can happen to anyone.
“It’s a start with students to keep our
kids safe,” Oliver said. “I was surprised how many of our youth didn’t
realize it wasn’t an issue.”
Oliver lauded several Federal Way
entities that have joined FWCAT’s fight. On Tuesday, the city issued a
proclamation to declare Jan. 10 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day, with
a similar designation for the month of January. The proclamation was
signed by Mayor Skip Priest, Federal Way Police Chief Brian Wilson and
the Federal Way City Council.
For its service project this spring, the
Advancing Leadership class of 2013 has selected FWCAT. Advancing
Leadership (AL) is part of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce and will
add the muscle of 30 volunteers to assist FWCAT in its efforts.
“Our team just wants to help elevate
their message,” said AL director Teri Hickel. “(FWCAT is) just so
passionate about really making a difference for kids.”
Jan. 9 forum
The second annual human trafficking forum
runs 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 9 at City Hall. Guest speakers include Wilson,
who will discuss the department’s strategy to combat human trafficking.
Other speakers include Peter Qualliotine, co-founder of Organization for
Prostitution Survivors, and Nick Lembo from Defenders and Shared Hope
International.
To learn more about the Federal Way Coalition Against Trafficking (FWCAT), visit www.fwcat.org.
FYI
In one high-profile local case, eight
people were indicted in January 2012 for allegedly operating an
interstate prostitution ring at Blue Moon, a Korean nightclub in Federal Way.
Organizers of the scheme sought Korean females to work as "bar girls."
The women entertained male clients and set up meetings for paid sex,
according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Many of the women were
recruited overseas and worked as “hostesses” at the club to repay their
travel and living expenses.
Contact Federal Way Mirror Editor Andy Hobbs at editor@fedwaymirror.com or 1-253-925-5565 (ext 5050).
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