West Virginia
YWCA of Charleston holds candlelight vigil for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day to raise awareness of the issue in West Virginia – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It was an occasion of reflection and solidarity at a local non-profit in Charleston Thursday evening as they joined the community in recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
The YWCA Charleston was host to a candlelight vigil to raise awareness of the issue, which according to the Department of Homeland Security, forces millions of men, women, and children around the world and in the U.S. into some type of labor or commercial sex act every year.
However, YWCA Charleston Resolve Family Abuse Program Director Julie Britton said the vigil was being held to particularly help raise awareness of the human trafficking that goes on right here in West Virginia, as well.
“We want people to know this is happening in the community and it can absolutely be stopped by the same community, as well, so we’re reaching out to partners and just everyone,” Britton said.
Britton said, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there are approximately 246 reported cases of human trafficking in West Virginia, and total of 550 identified victims.
Each candle at Thursday’s vigil was supposed to represent the hope and resilience of survivors of human trafficking, while emphasizing the collective need to combat the issue in the state.
Britton said it was a way they could stand together and shine a light on the dark reality the issue brings that not many people even know the magnitude of.
“It’s something that not a lot of people think about, or when they do think of human trafficking they have a very small idea of what that looks like, and not realizing that it is sex trafficking that happens between people who sometimes think their trafficker is a partner,” she said.
She said this issue unsuspectedly happens more often than not where the victim is convinced that they are in a relationship with the trafficker when in actuality they are being used for money or drugs.
Britton went on to say victims often don’t recognize themselves as the victim, and are typically convinced they are just bringing money into the household.
She said the scope of human trafficking goes far beyond what people typically perceive the issue to be.
“It’s insidious because people think it’s only one thing such as bringing migrants across the border and making them work when it’s so much more varied than just that,” she said.
Britton said those that suspect they might be a victim of human trafficking or believe they know someone who is to call they YWCA Resolve office hotline at (304)-340-3549, or use their chat function found on their website.
Many in attendance at Thursday’s vigil were wearing blue in honor of the occasion, as well. Every year Homeland Security holds Wear Blue Day as part of its month-long Blue Campaign that takes a stance against human trafficking nationwide.
West Virginia has added another commitment from Wyoming defensive end transfer Braden Siders.
Siders, 6-foot-3, 252-pounds, spent four years with the Cowboys although he redshirted in his first with the football program. Over the past three seasons Siders appeared in 33 games and started a total of 26 of those.
The Colorado native is coming off a season where he recorded 21 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks but appeared in only a total of eight games. In 2022, Siders had 44 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks.
Over the course of his three years on the field, Siders has 91 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
Siders entered the transfer portal Dec. 6 and reported offers from UAB, Louisiana-Monroe, Tulsa, James Madison and Bowling Green.
Siders becomes the first defensive lineman to commit to West Virginia from the transfer portal and has one year of eligibility remaining in his career.
WVSports.com will have more with Siders in the near future.
West Virginia Mountaineers: Commitment 101: Daveon Walker
West Virginia continues to add pieces to the roster and the latest was from the junior college ranks with a commitment from Butler C.C. Daveon Walker.
Walker, 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, grabbed an offer from the Mountaineers Jan. 4 and then took an official visit to Morgantown where he saw enough to commit to the program a few days later.
The talented wide receiver held offers from North Carolina, Samford and a number of others.
This past season at Butler he recorded a total of 19 catches for 331 yards.
Prior to that Walker was at Vanderbilt where he spent two seasons and played in just one game before transferring to Butler. The Georgia native played at Warer Robins High school where he caught 60 passes for 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Walker is the latest addition to the wide receiver room this off season joining four transfers in Jacksonville State transfer Cam Vaughn, Eastern Michgan transfer Oran Singleton, Youngstown State wide receiver Cyrus Traugh and Jacksonville State wide receiver Jarod Bowie.
WVSports.com breaks down the commitment of Walker and what it means to the West Virginia Mountaineers football program both now and in the future.
Skill set:
Walker is a wide receiver with good size that understands body positioning as well as how to go up and get the football when it’s in the air. He has the right combination of size to win in contested catch situations and the ability to win down the field.
Displays good body control to adjust to the football and is used primarily as an outside wide receiver during his lone season at Butler and there is likely where he ends up in Morgantown. Given his size, Walker also is a tough tackle once he catches the football and shows the ability to make people miss.
The Mountaineers have added a nice mixture of different skill sets for the wide receiver room so far this off-season and Walker has the versatility to fit several roles.
Fitting the program:
West Virginia offered Walker and was able to close the deal in a rather quick fashion. The Mountaineers will have 12 other scholarship wide receivers on the roster outside of Walker and he will have the chance to carve out a role given his experience throughout his career.
The Mountaineers needed to increase the talent level there and Walker certainly does that.
Walker has been to campus and should be able to adjust given his comfort level with the school as well as how the coaching staff prioritized him in his recruitment. He should have at least two years remaining as well which gives him time to make an impact.
Recruiting the position:
West Virginia is still in pursuit of wide receivers to add to the roster with Anderson (S.C.) Westside 2025 athlete Armoni Weaver and Fort Myers (Fla.) 2025 athlete Madrid Tucker being two high school prospecrs that the new coaching staff has extended offers to. Both plan to visit.
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Granada Theater – Opened in 1927, the Theater is located at 537 Commerce Street, Bluefield. It is contributing to the Bluefield Downtown Commercial District and while originally used as a vaudeville and movie theater, is currently used for cinema and live performances.
Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center – Opened in 1913, the Robinson Grand is located at 444 W. Pike Street, Clarksburg. It is contributing to the Clarksburg Downtown Historic District, and was designed and is still used for cinema, live performances and as an events venue.
Elk Theater – The Elk Theater was opened in 1940 and is located at 192 Main Street, Sutton. It is contributing to the Sutton Downtown Historic District. It was designed and is still used for Cinema and Live Performances.
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