On July 8, 2010 a group representing the Coalition Against Trafficking Women (CATW) in partnership with Prostitution Research and Education and others will be holding a protest in front of Craigslist Headquarters in San Francisco. The protest is designed to bring attention to Craigslist’s facilitation of and profiting from sex trafficking.
With projected revenue stream of an estimated $36 million for their fiscal year 2010 for their Adult Services section Craigslist can attribute a large percentage of its financial increase due to the influx of pimps, traffickers and johns creating ads. By continuing to ignore the realities of sex traffickers creating prostitution ads on their site, they are functioning as an on-line pimp for the sex industry.
Craigslist has become a hotbed of controversy by allowing one of the worlds’ most monstrous crimes, child trafficking to go unchecked on the site. In recent months Craigslist has come under scrutiny from law enforcement due to the sites ease of use in finding sex for sale under its Adult Services section.
The protest set for July 8th is being held to bring public awareness about how the company is facilitating and profiting from the exploitation of others though their lax policies. Co-sponsors of the event include Gloria Steinem, End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT-USA), A Call to Men, Breaking Free and Equality Now.
Speakers joining the event include:
- Aaron Cohen, Author/Activist, Slave Hunter
- Joy Friedman, Women’s Program Manager, Breaking Free
- Terria Joseph, Actor
- Victor Malarek, Author/Activist, The Natashas and The Johns
The fight against child trafficking and sex trafficking is a daunting one, but by taking a stand for what is right and exposing those who are complicit in the crime each of us can make a difference. The protest is one way tell Craigslist to shut down their Adult Services section and stop making it possible for traffickers to carry out this horrific act.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area you can join the protest on Thursday July 8, 2010 from 12:00noon to 2:00pm at the Craigslist Headquarters located at 1381 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA.
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