A Wisconsin Official Says an Ohio Mayor's Claim on Sex Trafficking May Not Be That Far Fetched

Friday, February 11th, 2022 -- 1:01 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) An Ohio mayor’s claim that prostitution can take place in ice fishing shanties isn’t that far-fetched.

Hudson, Ohio Mayor Craig Shubert became the butt of ridicule this week, for suggesting prostitution in ice fishing shanties. Cat Morgan is with the Altoona based group Fierce Freedom, which works to prevent human trafficking. “People don’t want to believe it. They don’t want to believe that it’s happening right under their noses, in areas that they never expected.”

Including she says, on the ice. And Morgan says people engaging in the sex trade are usually also being trafficked. “They’re being threatened by a trafficker, who may end their life if they reveal that they are being trafficked rather than that they want to be there.”

Morgan continued, “In regards to the ice shanties and ice shacks being used, and people kind of being incredulous, I think that’s something we’ve seen a lot in the work the work that we do. It’s uncomfortable. Even if it is true, people don’t want to believe it. Instead of dismissing statements that have been made that it happens in ice shanties and things like that, let’s really look at that and ask more questions. Because there is evidence to suggest that it is happening there.”

Morgan says people are often being trafficked for sex against their will, and that human trafficking has been documented in all 72 Wisconsin counties.

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