A sign saying ‘You are Love’ is displayed at a press conference to raise awareness on human trafficking. Photo by Iris Lewis/VTDigger
Roughly 50 people gathered across from the mural — which reads “You Are Loved” in swirly blue and purple letters.
In a brief speech, Nolan discussed the recent conviction of Brian Folks of sex trafficking, and the dangers of human trafficking nationwide.
“Human trafficking is a prevalent and vicious crime that is usually perpetrated against the most vulnerable Vermonters — often by for-profit drug dealers against young individuals, addicted to drugs, who have suffered terrible trauma in the past,” she said.
The event came less than a month after the conviction of Folks, who operated a sex and drug trafficking ring out of Burlington from 2012 to 2016. Folks targeted young, at-risk women in the Burlington area, including at least three victims under age 17.
Folks’s case was the first sex trafficking trial to go before a jury in Vermont. He was convicted on May 9.
According to Nolan, the Folks case is just one prominent example of an issue that has long pervaded Vermont. Between 2014 and mid-2017, Vermont’s Human Trafficking Task Force estimated that there were over 250 suspected incidents of human trafficking in Chittenden County alone.
“Because of the beauty of Vermont, because of what a wonderful place it is to live, it’s easy to forget that we have this very, very serious crime happening right under our noses,” Nolan said after the event.
Aimee Stearns, the victim witness coordinator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said that the timing of the Folks trial helped the event — and the office — by raising awareness on a perennially important topic.
“It was the first federal human trafficking trial and conviction that we’ve done,” Stearns said.
In addition to raising awareness about the serious problems that human trafficking poses, the day was also a celebration of the “You Are Loved” mural, and a reminder from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of their efforts to support victims.
Nolan helped paint the mural two years ago, filling in a patch of teal.
“It’s a wonder I didn’t ruin the whole thing, because I don’t have an artistic bone in my body,” Nolan said. “But it was a wonderful event for Burlington.”
Nolan, Stearns, and FBI victim specialist Valerie Gauthier all emphasized the mural’s message, and said the U.S. Attorney’s Office will help any human trafficking victims who need support.
“Painting the mural is letting anyone know who is or has been a victim of human trafficking that you are loved,” Gauthier said. “We see you. We care about you. And we as a community want to do better to help you.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: U.S. attorney highlights human trafficking in Vermont.