Councilman Manning to moderate event on human trafficking

Richland County Councilman Jim Manning will moderate a community conversation in April to address the issue of human trafficking.

The forum – Human Trafficking: Under Our Nose – will be 3 p.m. Sunday, April 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, 2701 Heyward St. The panel will include law enforcement officials, victim advocates and a survivor of human trafficking.

“It’s unfortunate, but human trafficking is real, it’s now and it’s happening here in our community,” Manning said. “I’m confident that as the public learns more about this issue, we can make a real difference in combating this horrible crime.”

Manning emphasizes that the Richland County Sheriff’s Department has arrested several people this year in connection to human trafficking of minors. The indictments by the state’s Grand Jury of six people arrested in January for the crime were the first such indictments since South Carolina reformed its human trafficking laws in 2015.

Last year, Manning joined Councilwoman Julie-Ann Dixon to kick off Richland County’s Human Trafficking Coalition. Manning said the coalition is tasked with bringing awareness to the problem of human trafficking and providing resources to victims. The forum in April is part of the continuing effort highlight the issue.

Human Trafficking: Under Our Nose is a free event and will include resource materials for attendees. Childcare will be provided, but parents must place a reservation by emailing [email protected].

The forum is sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia. For more information about the forum, visit www.uucolumbia.orgor call 803-799-0845.