information from the City of SeaTac

Deputy Mayor Peter Kwon addressed reporters and elected officials on Jan. 6 during a press conference for Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking press conference, highlighting the role SeaTac played in advocating for more resources to help end human trafficking. 

In 2020, the City made stopping human trafficking a top priority. In case you missed it, the City of SeaTac successfully championed a $140,000 state budget proviso to combat human trafficking.

SeaTac joins other agencies and cities in BEST’s statewide human trafficking awareness campaign aimed at helping victims and survivors. The Not Alone campaign started this month–January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. 

Three decades ago, concerned residents and businesses in SeaTac joined forced to incorporate as a City, in part, to put an end to the trafficking.

Since that day, the City has been working diligently to try and rescue those trapped in this vicious cycle and hold the human traffickers accountable for their crimes.

And it’s not just here in SeaTac, the U.S. Department of Justice reports that as many as 17,000 people are sex trafficked a year.

“Together we can have a tremendous impact on not only on our region but throughout this state,” Kwon said. “What we are doing today is just one step in a larger battle in this anti-human trafficking campaign. We at SeaTac remain committed to this cause and human trafficking remains a top legislative priority for this City.”

BEST is a Seattle-based nonprofit that provides human trafficking awareness training and helps survivors find employment. The Not Alone campaign helps victims of trafficking learn that they are not alone. Services are available to them by contacting the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888).

The Not Alone campaign is the first ever survivor led program created by BEST. 

Representative Tina Orwall (D) thanks the Port of Seattle and the City of SeaTac for working on this campaign and assisting BEST. She noted that sex and labor trafficking is a big issue in the 33rd district because of its geographic location. 

“Exploitation is about have power and control over another human being,” Orwell said. “This campaign is giving them a path so they can begin to heal.”