This St. Patrick's Day, Keep an Eye Out for Horrors Hiding in Plain Sight: Human Trafficking

I love this time of year. The Japanese magnolias are starting to bloom, locals and tourists alike are crowding Forsyth Park to soak up the sun, and a light dusting of daffodil-hued pollen is on nearly every surface. Pretty soon, fountains will be dyed green, Guinness will flow freely, and the marching bands and floats will wind their way through downtown streets for the 199th anniversary of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is one of the largest in the country and honors our Irish roots. According to estimates from a 2018 Georgia Southern University study, as many as half a million people come to Savannah to don the green and join in the festivities. For our local economy, that’s good news.

But, unfortunately, with any large-scale event, particularly one that attracts revelry and spirited fun, a potential for an increase in human trafficking arises. Human trafficking is defined as the exploitation of another person for sex, labor, or services. Savannah is no exception due to its high poverty rate, international port, booming tourism industry, and the crossroads of Interstate 95 and I-16.

To read the full op-ed in Savannah Morning News, click here.