Councilman Jim Manning continues to make great strides against Human Trafficking in Richland County
January 29, 2016
COLUMBIA SC – Richland County Council for the 2nd year joined the President and Governor in proclaiming January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month within their jurisdiction. More than a year ago Councilman Jim Manning, along with Councilwoman Julie-Ann Dixon, worked with their colleagues on Richland County Council to lead the charge to display their commitment in raising public awareness about human trafficking, particularly in women and children; and to emphasize that trafficking is a crime, with the intent to eliminate the demand for trafficked women and children.
Richland County Council continues to intensify collaborative efforts with governmental and non-governmental organizations to support comprehensive programs, including shelters, helplines for victims or potential victims of trafficking, effective counseling, training and social and economic reintegration into society of victims in Richland County in concert with the South Carolina State Plan to address Human Trafficking in our community.
Through these efforts, Richland County Government is proactively and aggressively taking steps to help the community understand 1) the impact their efforts can have on preventing a trafficking situation, and 2) who to contact should they encounter a suspicious issue. Richland County is also working with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity to help combat exploitative labor practices in supply chains.
Human trafficking is a thriving criminal industry, with traffickers making billions in profits by using force, fraud, or coercion to rob victims of their freedom. The International Labor Organization estimates there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking worldwide.
As we continue to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking in our community, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is as well vigorously addressing this communal issue, he just recently announced the arrest of 22-year-old Daytron Hoefer, who held a 16-year-old teenage girl against her will and forced her to engage in prostitution. Sheriff Lott stated, “that far too often runaway teens fall prey to suspects like Hoefer, who often take advantage of their vulnerability.” Richland County Councilman Jim Manning of District Eight stated “that this is a typical case, but what is atypical about this, is that we have a Sheriff who is willing and wants to step up and stop this, professionals, and Richland County Council who are willing to make a difference and prevent human trafficking.”
Councilman Manning, through his leadership and community efforts is educating citizens about what their government is doing to eliminate this issue and his unprecedented personal commitment to battling these acts of modern slavery. Councilman Manning participated in the Red Sand Project, which addresses the overlooked populations such as immigrants, women and children who are most at risk of spending their lives being exploited for the profit of others. This project asks people to take the time to find and fill a sidewalk crack with red sand to metaphoric cracks that these marginalized people fall through.
You can learn more about the Red Sand Project by visiting mollygochman.com or by following @RedSandProject on Twitter and Instagram.
Under Councilman Manning’s leadership the Richland County Citizens Against Human Trafficking (RCCAHT) participated in the S.C. Statehouse Human Trafficking Awareness & Slavery Prevention Month Media Conference. During this media conference various state agency directors and social services leaders spoke about what we need to do as a state to move us to preventive actions. They addressed the actions that have been taken but that there is so much more to do. At the recent press conference Lt. Governor McMaster presented a proclamation on behalf of Governor Haley and Councilman Jim Manning presented a resolution on behalf of Richland County Council.
“We have to be progressive and aggressive. Human Trafficking is happening right here in Richland County, not just across oceans or in other countries. Richland County can and will lead the way in our state, the southeast and the country in how we address and combat human trafficking at the local level,” stated Councilman Jim Manning.
For more information about human trafficking or how you can become a part of the change you want to see, please contact Councilman Jim Manning at [email protected] or (803) 787-2896.
