CLARION, Pa. — Due to the escalation of terrorist attacks throughout the world, along with the increase of human trafficking within the Commonwealth, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) and the Pennsylvania State Police-Clarion Station will host a town hall meeting to discuss the reporting of unusual or suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

The event will take place on Monday, Feb. 12, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Trinity Point Church of God near Clarion.

“Rural areas such as ours are not immune from the dangers of human trafficking, and in fact, can be an attractive place for which to traffic or entrap victims,” Oberlander said. “Our area includes two major transportation arteries, Interstate 80 and Route 28/66, which are often prime highways to transport victims to more populated areas. By knowing the warning signs and increasing education, we can help prevent men, women and children from becoming victims and thwart this type of illegal activity in our communities.”

The Town Hall Meeting will feature an intelligence analyst from the Pennsylvania State Police’s Critical Infrastructure/Key Resource Unit who will present on both human trafficking and suspicious activities. This interactive gathering will allow those in attendance to ask questions and get answers.

More information about both topics are listed below:

• Suspicious Activity Reporting — The world in which we live is rapidly changing and, in order to keep each other safe, society must adapt to current circumstances. To better protect our communities from criminal acts, as well as domestic and international terrorist attacks, it is everyone’s responsibility to identify unusual or suspicious behavior. Suspicious activity reporting continues to be the best defense against such attacks and it is one of the greatest means for developing resilience. A partnership between the community and law enforcement is essential to the success of anti-terrorism efforts and criminal activity prevention.
• Human Trafficking – Human trafficking is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers. Due to the vast network of interstate highways, Pennsylvania is a popular “pass-through” state for human trafficking as it provides relatively easy access to major hubs in Ohio, New Jersey and New York. The Interstate 95 corridor, which runs through eastern Pennsylvania, also connects the entire eastern seaboard. As a result, Pennsylvania is frequently part of the movement of human traffickers.

In this presentation, the audience will be informed of the types of human trafficking, as well as the indicators of both human trafficking victims and perpetrators. The ultimate goal of this town hall is to request assistance from the general public by reporting any and all indicators that could be related to trafficking and prevent further victimization.

“Communication between the community and law enforcement is a key component in the effort to combat this hideous crime,” Oberlander added. “I am hopeful that residents will join us for this informative and eye-opening meeting.”

The church is located at 180 West Trinity Drive, Clarion. Doors will open at 6 p.m.