Human trafficking task force holds vigil in Panama City for 282 child victims in Northwest Florida

PANAMA CITY — The 14th Judicial Circuit’s Human Trafficking Task Force held a candlelight vigil at the Hathaway Bridge on Tuesday night to recognize the victims of child human trafficking in the Panhandle.

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Tuesday was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

The Northwest Region of Florida has the highest rate of child trafficking in the state, according to a report from the Florida Department of Children and Families. Last year, the number of victims increased by 40%, going from 201 to 282 reported child victims in the region.

However, only 10% of victims are identified, making the actual number much higher, officials say.

Trafficking in Northwest Florida

Cherie Crim, Human Trafficking Task Force member, said it is critical to spread awareness and pay attention to that 40% increase. She said a lot of factors went into why the numbers went up last year.

“COVID had something to do with it,” Crim said. “A lot of people started living in places they didn’t live before because, you have to understand, trafficking isn’t just someone taking a stranger. A lot of trafficking happens with people you know.”

Dr. Laurie Lawrence, a board member for the Human Trafficking Task Force and faculty member at Florida State University at Panama City, stressed the importance of the public knowing accurate information about human trafficking, saying that labor trafficking is also prevalent in the Panhandle.

She said while abduction, threats, and abuse are a part of it, there are a lot of other facets to trafficking. Some examples include pimping out victims, grooming behaviors, and even one’s own family members using victims as resources to help fund drugs habits, alcoholism, and pay bills.

“A lot of times, victims don’t even recognize they are victims, which is difficult for the general public to understand,” Lawrence said. “These are the things we are trying to highlight, that trafficking isn’t what everybody thinks it is.”

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282 flags flown

At the vigil, dozens of members of the task force and community listened to speakers and walked to the bridge, holding LED candles to show their support for the victims. Crim and Lawrence went out at 5 a.m. earlier in the day to put pink and blue flags at the bottom of the bridge to symbolize all 282 child victims.

One of the speakers during the vigil was Lavished Ministries Survivor Advocate Kendra Gracia, who shared her story of being trafficked when she was only 17 years old. Gracia said being able to come out to these events and help other victims helps her feel empowered.

“From my own experience, it feels very hopeless while you're in that situation and you just feel like there’s no way out,” Gracia said. “Even if you do come out physically, mentally you’re dealing with the damage that was done. So, having other people and other voices who’ve walked through that life is just inspirational and it kind of pushes you to gravitate to others that hope and you go after it yourself.”

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Participants, like Bay County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Amy Burnett and Sonya Lowe, program coordinator at the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program, both said after first-hand seeing the traumatic effects trafficking can have on victims, they want the public to be more aware of what’s happening.

“I know about it because I see it, I work and I see it every single day,” Burnett said. “I feel like the community has taken a blind eye to this, like the community used to take a blind eye to domestic violence back in the ’70s.”

Lowe said as they walked across with their candles, she hoped any victims who saw them and the flags knew they were not alone and that they always have someone they can call in the community to get them out.

More to be done

As for what’s next, Crim said she wants to see more from local and state leaders. Crim cited recent ordinances, like having the human trafficking hotline posted on every bathroom stall, implemented in other counties and cities, like Atlanta, as potential models for Bay County.

She added that after the recent massage parlor and sex ring busts in the area, she would like to see more male politicians denounce it and bring attention to it.

“I would like every one of our politicians to stand up and say, ‘Real men don’t have sex with underage girls,’” Crim said. “And ‘Real men don’t go to massage parlors.’”

While the county has resources for both adult and child victims, Crim said she also wants to see a safe house implemented for child victims. Currently, there are no safe houses in Northwest Florida, Crim said.

“Most of the people from here, they end up going somewhere else,” Crim said. “They don’t actually stay here in the community because we don’t have a lot of resources for them."

Lawrence said it is important to educate yourself on the signs of human trafficking and to always stay alert when out in public. While it can be difficult to see a lot of traumatizing cases, she said she feels her battery recharge with the work she does, and she wants the public to just be aware of what is going on, so they can keep themselves safe.

“Obviously for an abduction, always be aware of your surroundings, always have an exit plan in mind,” Lawrence said. “Don’t be distracted on your cellphone, be mindful of your surroundings and that’s the easiest, best way to keep yourself safe.”

Crim hopes this day of awareness can lead to more resources for victims and numbers to go down once and for all.

“We may not have all the resources, but we are doing everything we possibly can,” Crim said. “(Victims) may not have a place to stay, but we know we are going to be able to help you and get you where you need to be because it’s important.”

If you or someone you know exhibits signs of being human trafficked, you are encouraged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City task force holds vigil for child human trafficking victims