DENHAM SPRINGS, La. — The Liberty Belles, a local Republican women's group, held their regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, at Rudy’s Seafood and Steakhouse.
Following a call to order by group president Bridget Gilbert, Louisiana Rep. Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, who also serves as Liberty Belles vice president, addressed the crowd with remarks focused on recent anti-predator operations.
Dickerson referenced a collaborative sting effort between local sheriff’s deputies and Chris Hansen, host of True Blue’s How to Catch a Predator, which she said led to the arrest of 30 individuals in two days — including a 37-year-old neurosurgeon.
“We are so much better than this because there’s evildoers out there and it’s right here in our backyard,” Dickerson said. “It’s not in rural countries — it’s right here. And our young people are our greatest resource.”
The War on Human Trafficking
The event’s featured speaker, Monica Taylor, head of the Governor’s Office of Community Programs and Planning, gave an overview of her office’s work in addressing child safety, domestic violence, and human trafficking across the state.
Taylor, who has decades of experience investigating and prosecuting domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking cases, emphasized the importance of understanding what constitutes trafficking.
“The thing that makes it trafficking is that goods or services are exchanged in return for the act,” she explained, referring to both sexual and labor exploitation, including cases involving substance exchange.
She noted that, according to available data, over 40% of trafficking cases in Louisiana fall under the category of familial trafficking instances in which children are exploited by family members, whether by blood, marriage, or legal designation. Of those, she said approximately 60% of cases involve the child’s biological mother, and around 40% involve stepfathers or the mother’s boyfriend.
“In some cases, what we see is that this is very, very generational,” Taylor said. “This is survival.” She clarified that while familial trafficking is often harmful and illegal, it can sometimes stem from cyclical poverty, generational trauma, or survival-based decision-making rather than clear-cut malicious intent.
Taylor also highlighted recent legislation her office supported that levies fines and fees against perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The funds are earmarked for domestic violence shelters to expand emergency housing access — particularly in situations where victims cannot immediately provide proof of intimate partner violence, which is often required for shelter entry under current protocols.
Language matters
Taylor also addressed the importance of how trafficking and abuse are discussed in public, citing a recent change in Louisiana law that replaces the term “child pornography” with “Child Sexual Abuse Materials” (CSAM). She said the change was meant to reflect the reality that such content involves abuse, not consent.
“It sounds like a child has consented when we say [child pornography], but every single time this happens, it is child abuse,” she said.
During a Q&A session, Taylor spoke about the challenges survivors face in recovery, including neurological impacts that affect decision-making. She noted that trauma to the sympathetic nervous system can contribute to survivors returning to abusive situations if support services are unavailable or cut short.
“They go back to what they know,” Taylor said. “If they’re not changing the way that they think and the way that their body is working…”
While her comments were intended to highlight the lasting effects of trauma, some attendees expressed concern over language that might unintentionally suggest responsibility lies with survivors. Advocates and service providers often emphasize the importance of trauma-informed care when discussing behavioral outcomes among victims of abuse.
As Taylor herself noted, “Words matter.” Her remarks underscored the broader point that public officials and advocates alike must navigate.
US Senate candidate speaks
After Taylor’s speech, U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Sammy Wyatt took the floor as a guest speaker for the event.
Wyatt began by telling the audience he prefers to speak from the heart rather than follow prepared remarks, stating he had no agenda “other than to be elected to represent you [Louisiana] as the United States Senator.”
He then spoke about his background in law enforcement and his current role as an investigative officer at LSU, where he specializes in crimes against children. Wyatt described several cases he has worked on involving child exploitation and noted arrests he has made over the years, including individuals in positions of authority such as police officers, teachers, and clergy.
“You used to think of criminals having long hair and [being] thug-looking and stuff,” he said. “It could be anybody.”
Following those remarks, Wyatt outlined several of his political views. He described himself as a “die-hard conservative”. He expressed strong opposition to transgender rights, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hiring practices, and what he characterized as left-wing or liberal ideologies. He also commented on immigration, referring to undocumented individuals using the term “illegal aliens,” and suggested they be relocated “anywhere else that President Trump desires,” adding that he found the idea of sending them to Africa “pretty humorous.”
Wyatt closed his remarks by saying that while he believes the election outcome is “completely in God’s hands,” he does not expect his opponent to be re-elected.
