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The Republican Women of Simpson County met on Thursday, September 7th at the E-911 building in Mendenhall.
President Melissa Caughman called the meeting to order. Evelyn Copeland gave the invocation and Ruby Ainsworth led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Dean Scott, Assistant Chief of Police of the city of Pearl, presented the program on Human Trafficking. Scott explained the different types of human trafficking: Labor trafficking and Sex trafficking. Human trafficking is a very serious crime and a volition of human rights. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking…Mississippi and Simpson County are no exception.
Scott spoke on the danger of cell phones with children. “Lock that phone down…know what is on your child’s phone and be active in how they use their phone,” said Scott. Often children are used to pay for drug deals. “The use of children for drugs is wide spread. It is not something we are comfortable with or can even imagine…but it happens everyday,” continued Dean. Assistant Chief Scott gave several examples of drug trafficking in our area. He explained that counselors in our area schools are trained to watch for vulnerable children. Many victims are between the ages of 8-14 and have their first sexual experience with a father, grandparent, uncle or cousin. The evilness of these acts almost ruins a child. Although a large part of the talk revolved around children, Scott explained the situations that young adults and older people experience.
Traffickers prey on the vulnerabilities of their victims. They may promise jobs, adventure, and/or a secure relationship to lure victims into trafficking. Traffickers may be: any gender or any age; foreign nations or US Citizens; single individuals or groups of people; family members, intimate partners, friends or strangers. (Information from MS Center for Violence Prevention)
Dean Scott is available for speaking engagements as well as personal contact. If you suspect a trafficking situation or a person being trafficked, contact Dean @ 601-932-3569.
(The meeting was so informative…I had no idea these things were happening in our county.)
Following the program, President Caughman asked Dale Simon to read the minutes. Faith Kennedy gave the financial report. Old and new business was discussed.
