Nonprofit organization hosts ‘Rally Cry’ walk to raise awareness of child human trafficking

The Demand Project Rally Cry Walk helped bring the community together in the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation.

Executives said less than 1% of human trafficking victims are identified. The Demand Project wanted the Tulsa community to become more aware of the crime so they could help stop human trafficking.

Step by step, people made their way down the Jenks Riverwalk, each one used in the fight against child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

“We needed to mobilize the community and put out a rallying cry for those who want to come forward and actually fight against this crime,” said Kristin Weis, co-founder of the Demand Project.

The Demand Project held its annual Rally Cry Walk on Saturday to raise awareness of child human trafficking.

“The mission and goal is to raise awareness and educate parents and children themselves on how to stay safe online and in real life, as well as raising a lot of money,” Weis said.

Executives at the organization said human traffickers often use the Internet to lure victims.

“It’s not that technology is human trafficking, but technology can lead to exploitation, and exploitation can lead to human trafficking,” said Jamie Miller, also a member of the nonprofit.

Weis and Miller want everyone to know about this crime, but their target audience is children.

“They are on the front lines of this war and as soldiers they will lose if they are not fully equipped,” Miller said.

As leaders and community members walked, they hoped each step would help bring this crime out of the shadows.

The Demand Project has the largest safe house for trafficked children in the country. The nonprofit is raising money to fully fund the home so they can use the entire campus to safely house children who are victims of human trafficking. To learn more about the Demand Project, CLICK HERE.