PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Put the Brakes on Child Trafficking at Truck Stops!
  1. Signatures
    812 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Manager, Flying J (Dwayne Sims)
  2. Created By
    Melissa Snow
    Washington, DC
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Modern-day slavery is occurring in the United States and the product for sale is often American youth.  Research conducted by Shared Hope International states that the average age a young person is targeted and lured into commercial sex is just 13 years old.  In addition to pimps selling these young girls over the Internet and forcing them to walk the "track", pimps also use truck stops to market and sell their child product.  The lack of understanding in the trucking community about human trafficking causes truckers to give the derogatory label of “Lot Lizards” to these girls rather than call for help. 

Truckers and staff at truck stops have the unique ability to be the eyes and ears of the community and could play a critical part in fighting this crime.  Education and awareness is key. 

Your voice makes a difference!!  Let's join together and request that Pilot Flying J Truck Stop, which is one of the largest truck stop chains in North America educate their staff and truckers in an effort to make their facilities free from human trafficking.  One simple step can save thousands of lives!

Recent Signatures

Stop Child Sex Trafficking at Pilot Flying J

Greetings Mr. Sims,

Child sex trafficking is occurring in America and research has identified truck stops as a location where traffickers are marketing and selling their product. In fact, the FBI has a specific initiative called Innocence Lost which coordinates national efforts to expose child sex trafficking in America. According to the FBI website, since 2003 "the initiative has rescued more than 400 child victims and led to the conviction of 308 individuals who exploited children through prostitution. Investigations have uncovered schemes that run the gamut from prostituting children at truck stops to promoting their services on the Internet." Clearly, truck stops have a role to play in fighting the crime of child trafficking in America.

We believe that truckers and staff at Pilot Flying J truck stops can be leaders in the identification and response to victims of human trafficking sold at truck stops. By providing informational material to the truckers and hanging signs in the Pilot Flying J facilities you can send a clear message to traffickers that their crime will not be tolerated on Pilot Flying J premises. Additionally, this educational material will empower truckers with response steps and hotline numbers should they view or come into contact with a trafficking victim.

As a concerned citizen I ask that you take the following action:
- Take a stand against child sex trafficking by signing the ECPAT Code of Conduct
(www.thecode.org)
- Contact leading anti-trafficking organizations and request materials such as awareness posters
to print and hand in bathrooms, break areas and public areas, etc.
- Require that all Pilot Flying J Truck Stop staff be trained on how to identify and report potential
situations of sex trafficking.

With Pilot Flying J having over 650 locations I'm confident that these steps would ensure increased safety of America's youth and reduce the opportunities for traffickers to use Pilot Flying J to conduct their crime. I look forward to your urgent attention to this critical issue!

[Your name]

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