LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Kentucky Derby is known for its glitz and glamour but, for one woman, it marks the place she was once trafficked — and where she's now helping others find a way out.  

Summer Dickerson is back at Churchill Downs, but her connection to the track is far different than most.

At 20 years old, she said she was trafficked to Louisville during Derby weekend, bought by a wealthy client and brought to Millionaire's Row.

"When we got into that limo, for this particular client, it wasn't about sex," Dickerson said. "It was about power and control."

Wearing a fancy dress, Dickerson blended in seamlessly with the crowd as she arrived to the Derby in a limo.

"They're gonna want the person they bought to look the role," she said.

Dickerson said this moment was one of many in years of abuse as a trafficking victim — but she understood what could happen if she tried to leave.

"Death. I've seen a lot of my friends die," she said. "A lot of my sisters and brothers did not make it."

At 30, she was able to get out and, this year, she returns to Churchill not as a victim but as an advocate for others like her. And as it turns out, there are more victims out there than people realize.

According to the Family and Children's Center, the Kentucky Derby is the second-largest event for human trafficking in the country.

"There are people that are going to be bought and sold all Derby weekend," Dickerson said.

In the days leading up to Derby, Dickerson is posting hotline numbers around the city in hopes of reaching people who need a way out.

The following could be warning signs:

  • Fearful, timid or submissive behavior
  • No personal belongings
  • Coached speech
  • Seeming disoriented or confused

Dickerson is encouraging those who see something that isn't right to call immediately, even if they're not sure.

"The worst-case scenario is you could be wrong — the best case scenario is you can save a life," she said.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 888-373-7888.

Kentucky's government is also staying vigilant on the issue. Gov. Andy Beshear recently signed an executive order to create a human trafficking coalition aimed at raising awareness, supporting survivors and holding traffickers accountable.

As Derby approaches, Dickerson's return to the track is a reclamation of one of the darkest days of her life. And now she's helping others out of theirs.

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