January declared Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Mayor William E. Cooper recently declared January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Enterprise. Tiffany Kidd, seated left, of Call to Light Ministries, Interim Police Chief Michael Moore, seated right, Officer Mahyar Hodiwala, standing left, and Detective Matt Saxon joined the mayor to make the declaration for 2021. Cooper read a proclamation that stressed the “very real problem” of human trafficking that can take many forms, including forced marriage, slavery and commercial sexual exploitation. The U.S. Department of State estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. Cooper said the problem is difficult to comprehend in today’s world and that it is further complicated because people often turn a blind eye to it. He urged everyone to become more informed about the issue and to work to combat its injustices.