Today, I got the disheartening news that a key law enforcement agency in Houston will not be joining Free the Captives’ annual OTC press conference. The OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) is the largest oil and gas conference that comes to Houston each year with over 100,000 attendees. Each year, trafficking increases when this conference is here. For the past three years, the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and several Constables have partnered with us in educating OTC attendees about trafficking and warning them about being arrested if they purchased women and girls in Houston during the conference.

These successful partnerships have recently been disrupted as OTC officials have reached out to newly elected city officials and have dissuaded them from participating in our annual press conference because it paints the OTC in a “bad light.”

Our format and message have not changed over the last three years, and we have always had great support from law enforcement. We have never said that the OTC is responsible for the increased trafficking that occurs when their conference is in town but IT DOES HAPPEN. When 100,000 people from all over the world descend upon Houston and come from countries where buying young girls is the norm and a part of closing business deals, trafficking becomes a huge problem in Houston. It just does.

And our press conference’s main purpose is to serve as a deterrent to “would be Johns” or buyers to tell them that it is unacceptable to come to our city and buy our girls and women. We need your help in making sure that the public’s voice is louder than OTC’s voice.

Will you call law enforcement today and politely invite them to be a part of Free the Captives’ annual OTC press conference on May 2nd? They need to know that the OTC is just here for a week but trafficking victims suffer a lifetime, and they have the power to keep men from buying these young girls.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez: 713-755-9563

Thank you for your help! We would love to continue working these government agencies in the fight against trafficking, and we need your help to make that happen!

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Be a SuperHero for Freedom! Online registration ends next Wednesday!

There are only TWO WEEKS until our big run, and online registration ends next Wednesday, April 19! Register before next Wednesday to ensure getting a race shirt. You can register on the day of the race but you will not be timed and a t-shirt may not be available. So register today!

Join Free the Captives for our 3rd Annual 5K on Saturday, April 22 at Mason Park, 541 S. 75th St., Houston, TX 77023. You can run or walk. The course is stroller friendly, and there is a 1K for kids. Register today for a fun and meaningful race!

There are prizes for the fastest runners and for the best superhero costumes! There will also be a HUGE free festival afterwards with live music, free food (BBQ, tamales, desserts & more!), and free games and inflatables. So plan to stick around for some fun! It will be a great time for the family. The festival is also open to non-5K participants. Come learn about human trafficking!

Online registration ends next Wednesday, April 19!

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Zumba and Trafficking Outreach Event, April 15

Do you zumba? Join us for a FREE zumba class followed by an anti-trafficking outreach near Mason Park on April 15! We want to get the word out about human trafficking in the East End so that families can keep their kids safe. Join us as we hand out flyers to our upcoming free anti-trafficking festival and help stuff the runners’ bags!

• April 15, Saturday, 9am – noon
• Mason Park, 541 South 75th St., Houston, TX 77023
• RSVP to volunteer@freethecaptiveshouston.com

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Pray for our Teen Trafficking Survivors

So thankful,
Julie Waters
Founder and Director
Free the Captives

PS: My husband and I have gone to Tippit Dental for years and personally recommend them!