Detroit trains hospitality workers to combat human trafficking ahead of NFL draft
(CBS DETROIT) – In just 22 days, hundreds of thousands of visitors will flood downtown Detroit for the 2024 NFL draft, and law enforcement says among them will be victims of human trafficking and those who enable it.
"We want to make sure that even the offenders and, quite frankly, the victims know that we remain vigilant and that we will prosecute offenders and we will rescue victims from this devastating crime," said Dawn Ison, United States attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.
On Wednesday, workers from hotels and restaurants around the metro were invited to a free training session at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel to learn the subtle signs to recognize, report, and prevent such crimes.
"Even if you're not sure, even if you may see a young girl that's approached by someone who is older, you may see their interactions, and you can see the dependency have," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "Those are important signs to report, and a lot of times, people do not want to report; they don't want to be involved, 'It was just my imagination, I may not be seeing when I think I'm seeing,'' but still report it to someone."
Although major sporting events like the NFL draft heightened awareness, those who work with survivors of human trafficking say it happens every day, often hidden in plain sight.
"It's not just happening in impoverished communities; it's happening everywhere," said Leslie King, a survivor of human trafficking and founder of Sacred Beginnings.
For more than 20 years, King was forced to sell her body in Grand Rapids.
She says traffickers are constantly moving their victims to go unnoticed and are finding their next targets, children and women, on the internet.
"Once they get the mind, the body follows, they work on vulnerabilities, they just eat at vulnerabilities. And once they get that next thing, you know, the child goes to where they are, or the woman or whoever goes to wherever this trafficker is, thinking that this person that they've been talking to for god knows how long, is this person that loves them, that cares for them, that's going to take care of them that understands them, until they get a hold of them," King said.
Raised in a home plagued by abuse and neglect, King's trafficker exploited her as a 15-year-old through fear.
"That if I were to run or tell the police, they would kill me, they would kill my mother, my child, my sister, or my brother, you know, when you get that in your head, and you see it every day, and you know what they can do, you comply, no matter what, you comply," King said.
In order to disrupt it, Lori Cohen, CEO of "Protect All Children from Trafficking" (PACT), teaches those who work in places like hotels and restaurants what to look out for.
"Is there a steady stream of people coming in and out of the room like sort of an abnormally high level of foot traffic? Does the person who's in the room does that person have luggage? If they're carrying their stuff in a plastic bag or they don't have any luggage, then that's a sign that's not normal for a hotel stay," Cohen said.
During Wednesday's training, law enforcement said The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates at any given time, there are about 300 victims being trafficked in metro Detroit, 10% are children. They believe that whenever the area hosts significant events, those numbers double.
"I didn't know how prevalent it may be in the state of Michigan or in Detroit. I never figured that it would, you know, happen next door or the things about families. That's something that was shocking to me," said Remonic Tinsley, senior rooms manager at the Westin Book Cadillac hotel.
Once they notice something is off, they're encouraged to contact the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text "BEFREE" to 233733 or email help@humantraffickinghotline.org*
"Our hospitality in this industry is second to none, right? Hotel employees are top-notch in balancing our safety concerns in the hotel environment with the guest experience," Eliza McCoy, Vice President of Programs & Impact at the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, said. "And so in this case, it's just exercising those same muscles, but doing so in a way that has heightened awareness for what they may be looking for to report."
After years of suffering, King reached a breaking point and attempted suicide, only to find a glimmer of hope that put her on a path of recovery and advocacy. Her organization, Sacred Beginnings, has helped over 20,000 women.
"Wherever they need help. That's where we go. And we walk them through until they're ready. And a lot of women aren't ready, and they'll go back out. And that's okay. I planted that seed, and you know, I'm here. And you know, you can call anytime, and we'll be right there," King said.
King is planning to be in downtown Detroit when the NFL draft kicks off to continue her mission of helping victims break free from the cycle of exploitation.
