Crowds in the Gaslamp Quarter at Comic-Con last year. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)
As thousands of visitors pour into San Diego for Comic-Con, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and event leaders joined Wednesday to offer tips on combating human trafficking, which can spike during such large gatherings.
“Comic-Con is an incredible event that brings people from all over the world together in San Diego to celebrate creativity, art, and community — we’re grateful to Comic-Con International for using their platform in partnership with my office to raise awareness of human trafficking,” Bonta said in a statement.
“Human trafficking is a terrible crime where perpetrators profit from the control and exploitation of men, women and children for sex or labor through force, fraud or coercion. Everyone has a role to play in putting a stop to human trafficking: We urge the public to know the signs — and if you see something, say something.”
Bonta’s office said the state Department of Justice’s San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force will be conducting operations during Comic-Con, and that “the public can help by reporting any suspicious activity they may see.”
According to Wednesday’s announcement:
Identifying victims of human trafficking can be difficult because traffickers often isolate victims from their families, communities and the public. Victims are sometimes kept locked behind closed doors. Victims of human trafficking can also be hidden in plain sight. They may have a seemingly legal job at a hotel, factory or restaurant, but are actually working for little or no pay.
A list of common signs and red flags for human trafficking can be found at oag.ca.gov/human-trafficking/identify.
Bonta’s office said human trafficking is among the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprises — estimated to be a $150 billion per year global industry.
If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services.
If you are, or someone else, is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.