The Super Bowl has a significant sex trafficking problem. In 2019 alone, according to the FBI, 169 individuals were arrested in connection with sex trafficking during an 11-day operation that was undertaken in conjunction with Super Bowl LIII which was being held in Atlanta.
However, as deeply problematic as the trafficking that occurs around large events such as the Super Bowl is, the 24/7/365 reality of sex trafficking in the United States is an epidemic of proportions most Americans have not even begun to comprehend.
Even with all the extra attention that the tragedy of sex trafficking received as allegations about New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft purchasing commercial sex at a massage parlor came to light after Super Bowl LIII in 2019, many people are still unaware of just how pervasive the demand for sex trafficking is in the Unites States on a day-to-day basis—let alone the many different ways it is perpetrated.
This lack of awareness is precisely why it’s important that we leverage the increased spotlight that the topic of sex trafficking gets in conjunction with the Super Bowl. In an age of distraction and increased competition for human attention, it is vital that we use opportunities for visibility as opportunities for education. That’s why we started the #TackleDemand campaign and run it each year in the lead up to the Super Bowl.
But we can’t spread the word alone. We need your help.
How You Can Be a Part of Ending Sexual Exploitation
Here are some great resources and social media graphics that you can share to help raise awareness. As you are having conversations about the big game with friends and family, whether in-person or via social media, you can be a part of the #TackleDemand awareness campaign.
There are also several incredible allies from the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation who are doing work on the ground in Miami to address trafficking in conjunction with Super Bowl LIV and they are hosting an event on January 25, 2020, which we encourage you to check out if you’re able to be in the area.
Also, regardless of whether or not you go to the game yourself, here are several important things to know about how to spot sex trafficking.
Sex trafficking is a massive epidemic, but the first step in countering and tackling an epidemic is a common understanding of the problem. Once that baseline is established, it’s easier to begin working toward strong, practical solutions.
If you’re ready to learn more about the epidemic of sex trafficking in the U.S. and about ways you can be a part of the movement to end sexual exploitation, we encourage you to start here.
