Human trafficking awareness vigil held in Bend

A candlelight vigil was held in downtown Bend Monday evening to mark National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness, to bring awareness and honor the victims of what many call one of the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprises.

Members from Soroptimist International of Bend joined Oregonians Against Trafficking and Managing Director Nita Belles of In Our Backyard for the vigil.

Belles spoke briefly about how this crime is happening on the High Desert, and how this vigil is to spread awareness and support victims of trafficking.

“We say to you,-we are sorry. We are sorry for those that have hurt you. We apologize for those that have hurt you,” Belles said.

According to inourbackyard.org, $150 billion is generated by victims in the U.S. each year, 1 out of 3 teens on the street will be lured into sex trafficking and about 80 percent of trafficking victims are female.

Under a new Oregon law, all businesses renewing their liquor licenses are given ‘Freedom Stickers’ and asked to post them on bathroom stalls.

“Oftentimes, the only time a victim of sex trafficking or labor trafficking might be alone is inside a restroom stall,” Belles said.

On the sticker is a hotline number that provide help within minutes. The text can be erased.

At the Shell gas station off Northeast 27 th Street in Bend, Belles says they’ve posted the stickers, but have repeatedly had to repost it after someone’s tampered with it.

“Within a few days in the men’s restroom, somebody came and scratched out the National Human Trafficking Hotline number. When something like that happens, we know we’re in the right place,” Belles said.

For a link to order a ‘Freedom Sticker’ or more information, visit inourbackyard.org