Change.org, NY Council Members Pressure Village Voice To Stop Sex Trafficking On Backpage.com

Change.org is getting help from New York council members to pressure the Village Voice to shut down its adult section of classified ads.

The social action platform has been urging people to petition against the newspaper's Backpage.com section, which pimps have been using for trafficking teenage girls, the organization announced in a press release.

To date, 92,315 people have signed the petition and concerned council members in New York are now also fighting to put a stop to the site's trafficking.

"Village Voice Media must ensure that children and teenagers are not being abused in the commercial sex industry with help from their website," said Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan/Bronx), who introduced a resolution Friday to eliminate the newspaper's Backpage.com section.

The Brooklyn District Attorney has prosecuted 32 sex trafficking cases in the past year and a half, and a vast majority of the girls were marketed through Backpage.com, according to a statement released by the office of Council Member Brad Lander. In the past three years, trafficking charges were brought against people using Backpage.com in 50 instances, in 22 states, the statement also reported.

After Craigslist shut down its adult services section in 2010, because it was found to be linked to trafficking cases, Backpage.com became the "prostitution-ad leader," according to aimgroup.com. The site's ad revenue increased 15.3 percent, to at least $1,671,685, in just one month.

"Pimps are turning to the Internet," Lauren Hersh, a Brooklyn prosecutor, told The New York Times. "They're not putting the girls on the street so much. Backpage is a great vehicle for pimps trying to sell girls."

Village Voice Media responded to The New York Times story, saying it, too, was combating trafficking, but that "censorship will not rid the world of exploitation."

To help shut down Backpage.com, sign the organization's petition.

Click through our slideshow below to learn which states have the strongest sex trafficking laws:

SLIDESHOW:

Comments

[Joseph Burlett]

05:00 PM on 03/15/2012

I do not think the problem is with Backpage. I think I am in the minority with that statement but I think the real problem is with our government. In 1996 the Federal Government passed a law called the Communications Decency Act (CDA 1996). This law was originally designed to protect children from the internet and to regulate what would be accessible since the online world really started to take off.

When the bill passed the House of Representatives and Congress, lobbyists of the Internet Service Providers (ISP) shifted the direction of the bill completely.

In the end the CDA provided minimal protection to the children and the public it was meant for. But instead granted immunity to the major internet companies. Even to this day the CDA interferes with human trafficking and child exploitation cases.

Shutting down sex ads on Craigslist, Backpage, or sexfinder, or any other of the dozens out there will do nothing in preventing this problem.

If one of these sites are closed down, the company will open a new site because of the amount of revenue that is generated. Combine that with no liability for the crimes they are helping to facilitate.

There has been several cases in the past 3 years where girls under the age of 18 have tried to sue Backpage/Village Voice and lost. Every time the judge presiding over the case quotes the CDA of 1996 stating that these providers have protection both civilly and criminally from prosecution.

[cathouselover]

11:05 PM on 03/15/2012

Yes Joe, really. These extremist groups think backpage or any other site that allows postings is deliberately engaging in child trafficking. I just think they are being blatantly dishonest.

[MKC]

08:03 AM on 03/08/2012

There is a large prostitution ring with ties to AK's former "dude" who uses Backpage. Google "gregwestinal" and see what comes up. He's an "associate" of the famous spouse mentioned above.

All of this is documented in the book "Boys Will Be Boys," written by one of his former "workers," a single mom with two special needs kids.

[winkywinky]

10:14 AM on 03/08/2012

Why is the media so quiet about this story..I've read the book, Shailey is one brave girl to put this out there and as women we need to support her. The "Dude" is a worthless piece of .....!

[justforpostin]

10:37 AM on 03/08/2012

This will take root. I fully believe that THIS is why Sarah did not run for President. I read Shailey's book and was entirely convinced of the story's authenticity.
"First Dude" will not be able to hide from this forever.

[RondaGP]

09:19 AM on 03/06/2012

Putting pressure with petitions like this work on those that let human trafficking and the sex slave industry to thrive because companies, like Craigslist and Backpage.com will do whatever financially makes sense.
Craigslist caved because they were exposed and pressured to stop allowing hundreds of women and children from being raped daily through their website.
Hopefully with enough support we can get Backpage.com will do the same.

[cathouselover]

04:33 AM on 03/07/2012

Oh the ads are still on craigslist, just another another category. And the people that are doing this have been caught lying about their data. Out of all the stings that have taken place few are trafficked and fewer still are 'underaged.'

[Bhavana Pardeshi]

01:12 AM on 03/05/2012

"Sex trafficking is a type of Human trafficking and estimates as to the percentage of human trafficking which is for the purpose of transporting someone into sexual slavery vary. This article reminds me of a documentary ""Sex Trafficking In Cambodia"" which tells the story of one of these girls who are forced into sexual prostitution.

To watch the documentary online visit:
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/63/"

[Yossarian22]

11:40 PM on 03/04/2012

This is a terrible, terrible idea. Kicking adult services out of sites like craigslist and backpage does nothing more than endanger the sex workers involved. When escort agencies and other services advertise on these sites, it makes it easier for police to monitor for underage or coercive prostitution or to search for absusive or even murderous clients- remember that the Craigslist killer was so easily found because he chose his victims via Craigslist. Of course it appears these campaigners are more interested in thinking they're somehow striking a blow against prostitution instead of just jeopardizing the safety of the people they claim to care about. If I were running a human trafficking ring, I'd be all for this campaign.

[cathouselover]

09:37 PM on 03/04/2012

So you getting a bunch of petitions to do what exactly? Are you gonna take them to court or something or you are just harassing and stalking them? Don't be surprised one day when one or more of your targets take YOU to court for defamation and other charges.