TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa woman is recognized by the president.
Kristin Weis is one of nine people appointed to the administration's council to end human trafficking. It is a fight she has been a part of for the last 15 years. Now, it is on the national scale.
Weis says human trafficking is happening in every state of our country.
She was nominated by Senator James Lankford and Congressman Markwayne Mullin to a group called The Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking.
Weis moved from Colorado to Tulsa with her husband. They started The Demand Project — an organization with a mission of ending all sex crimes. Part of what they do is link victims to help.
“Finding a victim of human trafficking is merely the beginning. There’s a whole battle after that because there’s a lot of consequences from what’s happened to them. The trauma doesn’t just go away once you find them.”
She adds, slaves of human trafficking do not always act like victims.
“Most have had been trained to be criminals. So, they’ve committed crimes. Most of the time, when we find them, they’re either in detention or in jail. When we find out they’ve been victims of human trafficking, they already have cases against them.”
After the nomination, Weis was selected by President Trump to be a member of the human trafficking council -- a two-year term.
She says she will be visiting the White House twice a year because of the role.
One of her goals is, “I’d like there to be nationwide training to help law enforcement and the legal system identify a human trafficked victim.”
On the council, Weis will join eight others from seven different states.
Anyone seeking help or information on sex trafficking can visit The Demand Project online.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
