This summer, drivers passing by Pearl on Highway 281 in San Antonio may notice a striking digital billboard with a simple yet powerful question: “Can You See Me?” This display is part of a nationwide anti-human trafficking awareness campaign that launched in San Antonio on Wednesday. The initiative, running in 25 U.S. markets through the summer, is led by Clear Channel Outdoor in partnership with anti-trafficking nonprofit A21Compass ConnectionsUnion Pacific Railroad and the San Antonio Police Department.
The campaign aims to highlight the realities of human trafficking and inform both victims and the public about available resources. A similar campaign in Texas in 2019 led to a 30% increase in contacts to the National Human Trafficking Hotline over three months. Organizers hope to achieve similar results in San Antonio and other participating cities.
Raising Awareness and Combating Trafficking
Interim San Antonio Police Chief Jesse Salame emphasized the importance of awareness campaigns in combating human trafficking, a crime that often relies on victims, witnesses, or community partners coming forward. “Campaigns like this are crucial,” Salame said. “They are important to shine a light not just on the issue, but to highlight the partnerships that are in place. It sends a message to the victims that there is help. It sends a message to the victims that we see you and it sends a message to the traffickers and those who would take advantage of the situation that we see you and we’re going to come after you.”
While the campaign focuses on prevention through public awareness, human trafficking remains an active concern for San Antonio investigators. So far this year, the SAPD’s Human Exploitation Unit has investigated 47 human trafficking cases, including 45 involving sex trafficking and two involving labor trafficking. Ten of those investigations remain active. Investigators have also followed up on 13 tips submitted through the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Last year, the unit investigated 85 trafficking cases and 23 hotline tips. One of those investigations remains active. Salame noted that these reports demonstrate the critical role of public awareness in identifying victims and building cases against traffickers. “We have received dozens of tips demonstrating just how valuable public reporting is,” Salame said. “We know what strong partnerships look like. We know what it takes to make the community safer, and we are committed to doing that together.”
Supporting Victims and Recognizing Signs
The campaign is not only aimed at helping police identify traffickers but also at reaching victims who may not realize they are being exploited or know where to turn for help. Tiffany Taylor executive director of call center operations for Compass Connections, which operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline, explained that the hotline provides confidential support around the clock by phone, text, and online chat. Trained advocates help callers find safety, local resources, and, when appropriate, coordinate reports with law enforcement.
During the first month of the campaign’s nationwide rollout, the hotline received more than 600 contacts across the 25 participating cities, including reports of potential trafficking, suspicious situations, and requests for information and support. Recognizing these situations, however, isn’t always straightforward. Courtney Litvak director of survivor leader initiatives for the Houston-based anti-trafficking nonprofit No Trafficking Zone and a survivor of human trafficking, noted that traffickers often rely on tactics that aren’t immediately obvious to bystanders.
Litvak suggested looking for signs that someone is being controlled by another person, such as not having access to their own identification documents or finances, another person speaking on their behalf, or never being left alone. “When you’re looking to spot the crime of human trafficking, it is hidden in plain sight,” she said. “Force, fraud, and coercion do not always show up as obvious signs of exploitation.” Litvak added that campaigns like “Can You See Me?” help people recognize warning signs that might otherwise go unnoticed while reminding victims that support is available.
