[Supervisor Don Knabe] – Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe joined local law enforcement officials, Metro executives and local businesses to unveil a multimedia awareness campaign aimed at informing the public about the heinous crime of child sex trafficking.

The campaign, originally called for by Supervisor Knabe, will appear at Metro train stations and bus stops, as well as on all rail cars, trains and over 3,000 buses in both English and Spanish. Thanks to a generous donation by Clear Channel Outdoor, over 50 digital displays and 15 traditional billboards will broadcast the message across Los Angeles County.

“This campaign is a first step in raising the public profile of child sex trafficking and finding a way to protect these young victims,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This is a great example of government and the private sector working together to shine a light on a travesty that is happening right here in Los Angeles County communities and neighborhoods.  Together, we are saying, ‘No more.  Not in our streets.  Not to our young girls.’”

Metro released 77,000 brochures on child sex trafficking in early April, 2012. The brochures include basic facts, tips on how to recognize victims and what steps to take. At the end of April, 15,000 brochures also were released on Metrolink trains.  All ads and posters include a QR code which, when scanned by a smartphone, will direct people to the Metro website for more information on what they can do to help fight child sex trafficking.

“Metro applauds the leadership of Supervisor Don Knabe in launching the campaign to fight child sex trafficking, and we encourage our many riders to be vigilant in telling Sheriff’s deputies or Metro employees if they see suspicious activity on our buses, trains and in our stations,” said Metro CEO Art Leahy.

Los Angeles County is also proud to partner with Clear Channel Outdoor to take its anti-child sex trafficking message to millions of residents.

“Child sex trafficking is a horrible and growing problem in Los Angeles county and Clear Channel applauds the work of Supervisor Knabe and the County to bring attention to this problem in order to encourage residents to take action to protect vulnerable children,” said Clear Channel Outdoor’s Southern California Division President Lee Ann Muller. “Clear Channel is honored to partner on this campaign to communicate this critically important public safety message so we, as a community, can save children from being sexually exploited.”