Tybee Stops Traffick raises awareness ahead of annual walk

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — Tybee Stops Traffick is preparing for its annual walk to raise awareness about human trafficking in Chatham County and across Georgia. The walk is scheduled for September 19, starting at St. Michael’s Church on Butler Avenue and ending at the American Legion on Veterans Drive in Tybee.

Some of the Organizers Carolynn Williams and Tasha Beke say the event is designed to educate the community about human trafficking while raising money for organizations that support victims.

“Tybee Stop Traffic walk is a lot of fun and it’s a good time,” said Williams.

The event also supports local organizations like Tharros Place, which helps girls ages 12 to 17 who have experienced abuse. Beke says the Tybee community has come together to support the cause.

“We are so blessed here, we got so many people that want to do good and work hard for what’s right,” Beke said.

Organizers say human trafficking can be difficult to recognize because it is not always visible.

“It’s not as visual. When we say human trafficking, this means more people now have some type of enslavement then ever in history, that’s a difficult fact to hear and not want to do something about it. So we are doing the best we can with the resources we have and talents we have,” Williams said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation recently announced more than 150 arrests in a multi-agency operation targeting human trafficking and child exploitation in metro Atlanta during the FIFA World Cup. Some suspects included doctors and service members who are now facing serious charges. Jay Neal, executive director of the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, has called human trafficking a statewide issue.

Tybee Stops Traffick says it has raised more than $20,000 over the past four years to support human trafficking victims and organizations working to help them.

Beke says the organization is also working to support Cross Catholic Outreach, which helps human trafficking victims overseas.

“They are put in a place of vulnerability already in their lives, so they are doing some work to help with that,” Beke said.