Alameda County DA Nancy O’Malley Unveils New Anti-Trafficking Billboard Campaign

Oakland, CA—Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley introduced the new public anti-trafficking awareness campaign, entitled ‘Human Trafficking: it’s real and it’s here’, designed to encourage the public to recognize that human trafficking – both sex trafficking and labor trafficking – is a significant issue in communities throughout Alameda County and the Bay Area.

This is the fourth year the DA’s Office has developed an anti-trafficking awareness campaign as part of the office’s commitment to raise awareness of sexual and labor exploitation in Alameda County, the Bay Area, and beyond.

“This campaign challenges us all to open our eyes to the fact that human trafficking—both labor trafficking and sex trafficking—happens here, in our own backyard,” says DA O’Malley. “This knowledge is crucial to fighting and putting an end to modern day slavery.”

The billboard campaign is a collaborative effort between the DA’s Office and Clear Channel Outdoor, and can be seen on roadways and neighborhoods throughout the county.

Each year’s campaign has focused on aspects of modern day human trafficking. Still many people in the community remain unaware that children and teens are exploited for sex and workers are exploited by their employers. The billboards offer a resource for people to learn how they can reduce demand for sexual exploitation, trafficking, and labor trafficking.

The DA’s Office encourages community members to speak up if they see something that doesn’t look right –call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center or the HEAT Watch Tip Line.

To report suspicious activity or human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center 24-hour Hotline on 1-888-3737-888, or text “BeFree”. For non-emergencies, you can also contact the DA’s Office Tip Line on (510) 208-4959.

For more information, please visit www.HEATWatch.org/