Superbowl Is Not So Super For Victims Of Sex Trafficking

While this might be an unpopular opinion, I hate sports, and not only for the typical reasons you might think.

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate sports and particularly football. While much of this hatred comes from a complete lack of understanding of how 1 quarter can last over an hour, I’m more disgusted by the increases in sex trafficking during major sporting events. As the country prepares this Sunday to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I’m concerned that even during a pandemic, the pandemic of sex trafficking will continue.

Childhood USA’s program partner Youthlink Minnesota shared that during Superbowl 52 the demand for sex trafficking increased exponentially. From January 26th-February 4th 2018, in collaboration with the Minneapolis Police Department Human Trafficking Unit, FBI and local nonprofits, it was reported that:

• There was a total of 9,796 back page ads posted in the Minneapolis area during the operational period in 2018
• In 2017 during the same timeframe, there were 8,325 ads posted on Backpage in the same Minneapolis area
• Approximately 2,700 ads were posted by phone numbers or post ids previously out of state
• There were 1,471 more ads posted in 2018 than the same timeframe in 2017
• There were 1,560 individual respondents to decoy ads

And who was purchasing and perpetuating sexual violence? Of the 94 arrested, 80 males were Minnesota residents. The majority of the males arrested had no criminal history and were between 31- 40 years old. The reality is that sex offenders or johns (buyers) are homegrown. Much like child sexual abuse, it is easy to imagine that those arrested were fathers, uncles, and friends.

Human trafficking is not a victimless crime and the victims who may be forced to travel to sporting events are involved in a game where they will never win. This Sunday and any given Sunday, we must ensure that demand for sexual exploitation is ended by education, prosecution, and empathy. Empathy because no life and nobody is disposable.

If you suspect that you have witnessed or a victim of human trafficking please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1–888–373–7888 to:

• GET HELP and connect with a service provider in your area;
• REPORT A TIP with information on potential human trafficking activity; or
• LEARN MORE by requesting training, technical assistance, or resources.