Eden Prairie's finest have thrown the gauntlet down on human trafficking, busting 362 individuals since 2016 across 34 sting operations in the metro area, according to a release by the City of Eden Prairie.
These stings, which unite Eden Prairie sleuths with the feds and other local law dogs, are more than a mere show of force against this underworld market - they've also thrown a lifeline to 106 victims, hooking them up with essentials like treatment and housing, jobs, and those ever-important skills to keep life on track.
Moving off the streets and onto the track, the Stop the Trafficking Run on June 15 at Purgatory Creek Park invites one and all to lace up against this scourge – run it, walk it, or even virtually pace it through June 23. Every penny raised by the event's sponsors is pledged to cradle exploited youth and women in the arms of local organizations such as ACT United, Beloved, and House of Hope, it'll stock up on care packages to bolster the 494 Corridor Group's recovery ops, as stated on the City of Eden Prairie website.
The lineup behind this shindig is a mosaic of community spirit, from Eden Prairie Police Department officers to faith congregations, local business moguls, and the city's own Human Rights and Diversity Commission, all busily stitching together this event with local anti-trafficking activists to amp up awareness and rally the masses in this fight - or as the city's release puts it: to "Stop the Trafficking.".
