OAKLAND, CA —Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley and Robert Schmitt, Regional President of Northern California at Clear Channel Outdoor, today unveiled the 2022 billboard campaign to combat human trafficking and help victims of this horrific crime get help.

The campaign features Clear Channel billboards and bus shelters throughout Alameda County, bringing awareness to the insidious crimes of human trafficking. The bus shelter posters feature messages of hope from actual human trafficking victim- survivors, showing other potential victims that seeking help is available.

“Our campaign conveys the message of hope to victims: they received help and so can you,” said District Attorney O’Malley. “Human sex trafficking occurs right here in our own Bay Area, and in our own county. Teens, children, and residents of Alameda County are trafficked every day. Our office continues to shed light on this topic to combat these horrific crimes in the hopes that one day, we will end human trafficking.”

For the first time ever, Alameda County is also taking the awareness campaign one step further. For the rest of the month of January, the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland will be lit at night in blue, the color representing human trafficking awareness. The lighting of the courthouse is a reminder to all that human trafficking is a problem that exists in our county, but is being combated every single day by our office.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Clear Channel Outdoor have collaborated for nearly 10 years to deliver education and awareness to communities throughout Alameda County and the greater Bay Area. The offices collaborate every January to create billboards targeting human trafficking in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

“Our message in this campaign is as clear as the print on our billboards: for victims of human trafficking, there is help, there is a safe way out, and, there is a path forward,” said Bob Schmitt, regional president, Clear Channel Outdoor-Northern Calif. “Coming together with our law enforcement, community and elected leaders I know this campaign will make a difference in someone’s life.”

The Alameda County DA’s Office is a leader in the state and the nation in addressing and prosecuting human trafficking cases and in enabling victims to escape exploitation.

2022 Human Trafficking Statistics

Important phone numbers:

TO REPORT IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911.

FOR ALL NON-EMERGENCY REPORTS, CALL THE HEAT WATCH TIP LINE:

(510) 208-4959

FOR 24 HOUR HELP, CALL THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE:

(888) 373-7888 OR TEXT BEFREE (233-733)

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Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero // Angela.Ruggiero@acgov.org // (510) 272-6245