Denver City Council member Serena Gonzales Guttierez commented during the Budget and Policy meeting Monday about the threat of human trafficking at the stock show.
Gonzales Guttierez said she first raised the issue during a council tour of the National Western Center campus. Campus officials gave an update Monday at the committee meeting on construction progress and other issues at the campus. Gonzales Guttierez again asked about human trafficking. “I just want to lift up one thing,” she said, adding she “caught folks off guard a little bit” when she asked about it during the tour. “They were like wait why are you even thinking about this? But I wanted to bring it up here… and continue to ping it. I asked about what kinds of partnerships are being done with groups like Denver Anti-trafficking Alliance around human trafficking when there are large sporting events, large events. I know you talked about how many people attended the stock show and what that then opens the door for….”
Gonzales Guttierez said the National Western Center is open to talks about human trafficking prevention. Ten years ago, the FBI conducted a sting at the National Western stock show and arrested two adults on suspicion of human trafficking and rescued six children, according to KUSA 9 News. They were not arrested on the grounds of the stock show.