In 1975, Vicksburg, Michigan was a sleepy quiet little farming community. People thought that the Masonic Organization and Jehovah Witness church were helping families in the little community. But they did not know children were sexually abused by both organizations. Many children were forced to do sexual acts and drugs were put in the food to make them sleep. Rita O'Brien considers herself to be a fearless fighter in taking the next steps to get justice. At first, she started by learning more about what trafficking was. After educating others for 8 years and seeing the patterns that her dad displayed, Rita wanted to do more. Rita had to live a double life that no one understood. Rita went to school during the day, but endured the horrors that no child should have to endure. The day her dad allowed over 30 men to sexually assault her and another boy in her teens was the last. She wanted this horrific life to end. Later in life, she heard about Kalamazoo Area Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition and learned to speak to educate her community. Rita is now teaching police recruits at Kalamazoo Valley Community College a 4-hour training on human trafficking. She is also trying to find a way to get laws passed to have Michigan require that all children aged 5 and older be taught what trafficking is and how to get help. Now, she speaks under Michigan State Police with Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to educate Law Enforcement on what needs to change and what has to be done. Rita will share her story to shed light on the abuse and trafficking that happened and what a predator looks like. She also wants people to know about properly educating police recruits so that change can happen community wide.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rita O'Brien is a survivor and educator with a passion for justice to educate in the communities that she was trafficked from. Rita got her Bachelors at Eastern Michigan University and went on to Western Michigan University to her Masters with a Trauma focus.