It wasn't road rage or a slow driver causing the excessive honking in Downtown Oshkosh on Wednesday.
It was the signs of volunteers standing on the sidewalk. Those signs encouraged motorists to honk their horns and raise awareness of human trafficking.
It's the seventh year the group Damascus Road, which helps human trafficking survivors, organized the sign-holding event on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
"It's important that we raise awareness locally and nationally as well," said Terra Koslowski, Damascus Road Outreach Director.
Damascus Road works to prevent human trafficking through awareness, according to Koslowski.
"Like many people, I thought it was something that maybe happened in other countries, but I had no idea it was happening here," said Koslowski.
Not only is it happening in the United States, but in Northeast Wisconsin. At least one case of human trafficking has been reported in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties.
According to Koslowki, traffickers target teenagers and young adults, acting like a boyfriend or someone offering a job. Their tactic is called luring.
"Anywhere where you have young people those ages, you have the potential for trafficking," she said.
Some signs of human trafficking are a new significantly older boyfriend, a new tattoo on the chest, face or neck, and new, expensive accessories with no new job.
For volunteers, helping victims of human trafficking is motivation to hold these signs.
"I have an almost five year old daughter and I think about other children out there who are stuck in these situations and it breaks my heart," said Mandy Garske, a volunteer from Amherst Junction, Wisconsin.
Giving a voice to those trapped in silence.
