| For Immediate Release
July 25, 2014 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486
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SUPPORT GROWS FOR 2nd ANNUAL “KEEP CALM & BEAT H.E.A.T. ROCKING & RALLY” TO TAKE PLACE AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
SANTA ANA – Just a few months to go and the support keeps growing as new sponsors sign on to stand up against human exploitation and trafficking for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) 2nd Annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally” this coming October. The event will be held on Oct. 24, 2014, at Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange. This is the first year Chapman University will co-host and co-sponsor this event to fight against Human Trafficking and Exploitation (H.E.A.T.) as part of the initiative to go after perpetrators of human trafficking and exploitation with vigor, while taking a comprehensive approach to solve the problem and bring community stakeholders together. There will be an all-day symposium, food trucks, informational booths, and a rock concert at this event.
The symposium will be held to increase community awareness on human exploitation and trafficking, the second-largest criminal enterprise in the nation and a $32 billion a year industry. A rock concert will immediately follow with Director of Music Stan Frazier, of Sugar Ray, at the helm.
In April 2013, OCDA formed the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, which targets perpetrators who sexually exploit and traffic women and underage girls for financial gain, including pimps, panderers, and human traffickers. Commercial sex trafficking is the second most lucrative criminal enterprise behind narcotics trafficking. Often the perpetrators are gang members and/or career criminals. To date, the Unit has prosecuted 47 cases with 100% conviction rate.
The HEAT Unit also targets defendants who create a demand for prostitution by soliciting and purchasing sex, which increases the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children. The HEAT Unit uses a tactical plan called PERP: Prosecution of human trafficking perpetrators and sex purchasers; Education for law enforcement to properly handle human trafficking and pandering cases; Resources to raise public awareness and provide assistance to the victims; and Publicity to inform the community about the problem and notify human traffickers and sex purchasers that this crime cannot be perpetrated without suffering severe consequences.
Co-Sponsors
The OCDA would also like to thank the co-sponsors for this event: Anaheim Councilwoman Kris Murray, the A21 Campaign, the Casa Youth Shelter, Chapman University, Children of the Night, the Community Service Programs Inc., Crittenton Services for Children and Families, Diamond Bar Councilwoman Ling Ling Chang, Jerry Zomorodian, the Junior League of Orange County, Mike Schroeder, the Orange County Human Relations Commission, the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, OCDA Chief of Staff Susan Kang Schroeder, Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Steven Baric, State Board of Equalization Vice Chair Michelle Steel, and Julianna Nagle, a 17-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador who single-handedly raised over $500 for this event.
Anyone interested in becoming a co-sponsor can contact Susan Kang