PRESS RELEASE
NGOs, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS STAND WITH SHERIFF TOM DART IN HIS REQUEST TO CARD COMPANIES TO FIGHT TRAFFICKING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media(at)thegentlemensposse.com
Los Angeles – August 20, 2015: Upon news that U.S. District Judge John Tharp granted a restraining order against Sheriff Tom Dart of the Cook County Police Department, who has been covered by human rights advocates such as Nicholas Kristof, for efforts in curbing trafficking, the following national leadership feel it extremely important to support a Sheriff who works to find predators, protects trafficking victims, and who reaches out to corporations, such as Visa and MasterCard, for the purpose of getting their support in his efforts limiting services that could aid in human trafficking.
Credit card companies naturally should be preventing any processing where trafficking is or has been found, along with other companies that could be contributing to the increase of trafficking through the use of products or services. Companies especially have a role in doing what they can, to prevent trafficking and in discontinuing the use of services associated with illegally trafficking the innocent. Illegal activity curbing and human trafficking prevention, have no connection to censorship, or in curtailing profits for legitimate business transactions.
Sheriff Tom Dart is applauded and supported by the following groups, and leaders, who stand with him in his request to companies, in efforts to fight trafficking, and also call on additional companies whose offerings can be or are being used to aid traffickers in the crime of sex trafficking, including online boards, websites, payment processors, Bitcoin, Internet service providers, search engines, technology and hospitality companies, and many more, to do the same.
TED BAEHR, PUBLISHER
MOVIEGUIDE®
JODY CONOPHY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CULTURE REFRAMED
DAVID FOWLER
PRESIDENT
THE FAMILY ACTION COUNCIL OF TENNESSEE, INC.
DAWN HAWKINS
VICE PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NATIONAL CENTER ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
DONNA M. HUGHES
PROFESSOR & CARLSON ENDOWED CHAIR IN WOMEN’S STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
CO-FOUNDER, CITIZENS AGAINST TRAFFICKING
LIEUTENANT OSCAR MEJIA
PRESIDENT
NATIONAL LATINO PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION – NORTH LOS ANGELES COUNTY CHAPTER
MICHELE MOREK
DIRECTOR
UNANIMA INTERNATIONAL
PENNY NANCE
CEO & PRESIDENT
CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA
TONY NASSIF
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
PREVENTING ABUSE FOUNDATION
ANN SCHOLZ, SSND
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR SOCIAL MISSION
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS
TIFFANY VAUGHN
CHIEF LIBERATION OFFICER
THE GENTLEMEN’S POSSE
ANTOINETTE WELCH
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
THE HANNAH PROJECT
YVONNE WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT
NETWORK FOR CULTURAL CHANGE