This August, we returned to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to raise awareness of a very serious issue happening at an alarming rate: sex trafficking. Our goal is simple: zero trafficking victims during the Sturgis Rally. This year we walked the streets to arm thousands of people with the knowledge of how they can take action to stop traffickers and help bring them to justice.
Last year, joint law enforcement teams conducted multiple sex sting operations during the rally, resulting in 9 arrests. Agencies involved in the operation included the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department.
Our team walked the streets handing out flyers and hanging up posters with specific signs to look for suspicious activity.
Together, we can be a powerful force in raising awareness and bringing an end to this dark industry.
Let’s Rally Together to prevent sex trafficking!