‘Save Our Children' march in Roseburg spotlights human trafficking

It was called the “Douglas County Save Our Children Sidewalk March,” and organizers said the goal was to bring awareness to the realities that are happening in one’s own backyard.

A movement that started out as a hashtag -- is getting people to act nationwide.

"save our children" has picked up traction across the country and douglas county residents came together today for a march against human trafficking.

Kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy was there and found out more about the meaning behind the march.

The most recent data from the state of oregon shows that there were over*700 reported cases of human trafficking in the last year.

And 16 of those cases took place within douglas county.

Taylor: "we just want them to know that it's happening here.

It's happening everywhere."

Dozens of residents of*all ages marched in roseburg to bring attention to fight against human trafficking and child abuse.

Taylor: "the kids are our future.

We have to protect them.

One of our signs says, if we want to save the world it starts by saving one child."

6 bridge: marchers tell me that this message is not something you can turn a blind eye to.

And they're calling for the community to wake up putting the realities of human trafficking in the spotlight.

In february of this year, a california man was arrested in roseburg.

He faced 12 felonies, including kidnapping, trafficking, involuntary servitude and using a child in a display of sexual explicit conduct.

Three teen girls who had been living in a group home in seattle were rescued karrlee: "i would like to see harsher sentences for sex offenders."

She says change within the justice system needs to be made.

Karrlee: "sex offenders are gettng off in 3-6 years.

While the victim that manages to murder her predator gets 25 to life.

That just is so unbalanced and not fair."

The coordinator of the douglas county human trafficking task force also spoke at the march.

Which is a group that advocates for survivors and educates the community about the signs of human trafficking.

Karlee: "oregon, because we're on the i-5.

Were a like a hub for human trafficking.

It happens way too often.

Something thats been happening for hundreds and hundreds of years and its time to stop overlooking it.

Reporting in roseburg kennedy