Dothan proclaims January 2026 Human Trafficking Awareness Month; survivor advocates ask for community support
January 21, 2026 | Dothan City, Houston County, Alabama
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The Dothan City Commission on Jan. 20 proclaimed January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and recognized local survivor-support efforts.
Mayor Mark Luther read the proclamation, which described human trafficking as a public-health and criminal problem that affects individuals, families and communities and said a coordinated, communitywide response is required to support survivors and prevent exploitation. Morgan Blankenship, executive director of Dare to Hope, accepted the proclamation on behalf of survivors and partners.
Blankenship said the proclamation "is not merely a piece of paper" but an opportunity to stand with survivors. She described a federal trafficking case that originated in Dothan and said federal prosecutors in court estimated the defendant trafficked between 50 and 100 women over a four-year period. Blankenship credited Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Dothan Police Department for their investigative work and said she expected a life sentence at an upcoming federal sentencing hearing.
"This proclamation is an opportunity for us all to stand together to show survivors…that we'll fight for them," Blankenship said.
The proclamation text read at the meeting said human trafficking is connected to other forms of violence and that protecting people requires collaboration across sectors and inclusion of survivors in developing effective services.
No formal policy action accompanied the proclamation; commissioners and the presenter urged community awareness, partnerships with survivor services and continued law-enforcement collaboration. Blankenship asked the commission and community for prayer and support for survivors and the ongoing prosecutions.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after the proclamation; no follow-up actions were announced during the meeting.
Mayor Mark Luther read the proclamation, which described human trafficking as a public-health and criminal problem that affects individuals, families and communities and said a coordinated, communitywide response is required to support survivors and prevent exploitation. Morgan Blankenship, executive director of Dare to Hope, accepted the proclamation on behalf of survivors and partners.
Blankenship said the proclamation "is not merely a piece of paper" but an opportunity to stand with survivors. She described a federal trafficking case that originated in Dothan and said federal prosecutors in court estimated the defendant trafficked between 50 and 100 women over a four-year period. Blankenship credited Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Dothan Police Department for their investigative work and said she expected a life sentence at an upcoming federal sentencing hearing.
"This proclamation is an opportunity for us all to stand together to show survivors…that we'll fight for them," Blankenship said.
The proclamation text read at the meeting said human trafficking is connected to other forms of violence and that protecting people requires collaboration across sectors and inclusion of survivors in developing effective services.
No formal policy action accompanied the proclamation; commissioners and the presenter urged community awareness, partnerships with survivor services and continued law-enforcement collaboration. Blankenship asked the commission and community for prayer and support for survivors and the ongoing prosecutions.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after the proclamation; no follow-up actions were announced during the meeting.
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