Warner promoting West Virginia Businesses Against Trafficking program | News, Sports, Jobs

December 2, 2023

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: Secretary of State Mac Warner demonstrates the hand signal to tell someone help is needed. The four fingers are outstretched, then closed. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

: Secretary of State Mac Warner demonstrates the hand signal to tell someone help is needed. The four fingers are outstretched, then closed. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Secretary of State Mac Warner demonstrates the hand signal to tell someone help is needed. The four fingers are outstretched, then closed. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

PARKERSBURG — Organizers of an initiative combating human trafficking in West Virginia came away with a good idea from a meeting Wednesday with businesses at the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

West Virginia Businesses Against Trafficking was recently started by Secretary of State Mac Warner and expands the fight against trafficking with more people watching for suspicious situations.

“It does happen,” Warner said. “If we don’t look for it, we can’t stop it.”

He cited a case in another state where a young girl was in the bathroom of a store and saw a sticker about trafficking. The girl didn’t have a phone, but tipped a clerk she was in trouble and the clerk called state police, Warner said.

“They had him arrested,” Warner said. “Saved the girl.”

Secretary of State Mac Warner demonstrates the hand signal to tell someone help is needed. The four fingers are outstretched, then closed. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

People need to be aware, Warner said.

A hand signal that a person needs help is to hold four fingers straight and close them, he said.

“I did not know that until six months ago,” Warner said.

Businesses Against Trafficking works with the West Virginia Fusion Center, the governor’s office and the state Department of Homeland Security. Coordinated through the Office of the Secretary of State, Businesses Against Trafficking, the West Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force and a network of liaisons throughout the state will provide the eyes to watch and report cases of human trafficking.

Traffickers prey on the vulnerable to enslave people through different ways including violence or a threat of violence or psychological means.

Three arrests were made since August in West Virginia in Cabell, Berkeley and Mason counties, he said.

Warner is traveling the state, speaking to any organization wanting to know more about the program. He also is an announced candidate for governor in 2024, but the filing period doesn’t start until Jan. 8.

About half a dozen organizations participated in a meeting with Warner Wednesday morning with the chamber in Parkersburg, where President Jill Parsons suggested waiving a $25 license fee required by the state for businesses that participate. The waiver would have to be enacted by the Legislature, he said.

“That was a good idea from Jill Parsons,” Warner said.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

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