The annual event is held by the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force. "That's why we hold our vigil every year, so we remember folks, children, women, men, boys," Co-founder Marlys Wisch said, "To remember them and to not forget them and to keep the fight going forward."

The Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force formed in 2013. Since then, they have been focused on education and awareness in an attempt to transform the community into a coalition on the lookout for red flags.

Wisch said, "It's hidden in plain sight. People don't recognize what they're looking at."

A variety of speakers at the vigil represented the collaborative effort at work between organizations. Trafficking Awareness Month is now extending into February to highlight the missing and murdered and indigenous women crisis.

Native Lives Matter Coalition member ReneAnn Goodrich sees the growing conversation as progress. She said, "And with that, there's that huge pool of resources that happen, people resources, so that we're able to bring these events into the community."

Despite progress over recent years, there's a long way to go in the fight against trafficking. Advocates continue to focus on awareness, education, and prayers. Wisch said, "Even if you just send up a prayer, 'stop this,' that would even help."

The full schedule of events through January and February can be found here. For resources or to donate to the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force, click here.

To read the original article and see related reporting, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website.  https://www.wdio.com/news/two-harbors-vigil-honors-trafficking-victims/5603912/?cat=10335