Red Sand Project for human trafficking debuts at Ellsworth Air Force Base

Ellsworth airmen met with advocates against trafficking to learn what to look out for.
Published: Jun. 26, 2024 at 9:05 PM EDT
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RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base met with the West River Human Trafficking Task Force Wednesday to participate in a decorative ceremony and to learn the signs of human trafficking. The group spread red sand between cracks in the sidewalk in front of Ellsworth’s Rushmore Center. As the first installment of the ‘Red Sand Project’ at the base, the goal was to represent human trafficking victims who had ‘fallen between the cracks.’

For West River Human Trafficking Task Force public awareness leader Lisa Gennaro, teaching airmen what to look for was a valuable opportunity, as they can spread this knowledge around the world.

“They go to different states, you know, they go to different countries,” Gennaro said. “And their job is to protect the people.”

Gennaro explained some of the signs exhibited by human trafficking victims include refusal to speak, always being accompanied by others and visible wounds.

To report suspected human trafficking in South Dakota, reach out to the state’s sexual assault hotline at 1-888-352-8511. Elsewhere in the United States, options include dialing 211 for a resource database or 911 in an emergency.

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