OPINION —
Hartsfield-Jackson is the largest airport by number of travelers in the world. People feel they must hurry to get to their gate. Many never think of traveling leisurely. They are tied to their smartphones every minute (it seems). They do not think they can help out the public, or they just don’t want to. If they saw someone at the airport resembling Mabel “Madea” Simmons of six popular movies, they would not blink an eye.
“If you think you have witnessed a trafficking situation, keep careful track of your observations; do this especially where people gather, like at airports,” said Tyler Perry, producer and actor shown in a PSA currently running on the monitors at Atlanta’s famous airport. Perry, of course, portrayed Madea in those funny films.
State of Georgia and city of Atlanta politicians, as well as other key players in the battle against human trafficking, presented a yearly report. The event was held at the airport to symbolically close Human Trafficking Month on Jan. 31. Major airports appeal to trafficking predators (see below).
Alabama does not have a human trafficking situation as Georgia has. Nonetheless, in 2019, Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law an important bill sponsored by the Alabama Trucking Association. Ford Boswell, senior advisor for communications and marketing, was pleased that Ivey had a role in getting those changes effected.
In the Yellowhammer State, all new students studying to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) have to complete trafficking awareness training. This applies whether attending a CDL trade school or a training program. Upon earning a CDL, they learn “red flags” of human trafficking.
“Unfortunately, some survivors of human trafficking still carry around the weight of a criminal record while trying to heal from the trauma they’ve experienced,” explained Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “We are proud to…
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