DC Declares "Prostitution Free Zone" for Obama Inauguration

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-01-19 14:29:00 UTC
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from DCist.comIf you were thinking of celebrating the inauguration of the 44th President Barack Obama with a little commercial sex, think again.  The DC government has declared some part of the city a "prostitution free zone." The locals are excited about it.

John Thompson lives in the neighborhood, and he said prostitution is a major problem. He hopes the signs make a difference, but what will visitors think?  'I'm not concerned with what visitors think. I'm concerned about the problem that exists,' Thompson said.

While I certainly support taking extra measures to prevent prostitution around large events (which are a major destination for trafficking victims in prostitution), the DC government could have done a whole lot more.  The most audacious part of these signs is that they have an expiration date.  Basically, DC is admitting that there is prostitution in this area and will be after the inauguration, they're just trying to keep things in check while all the important people are in town.

DC government, prostitution is illegal in the District, so shouldn't everywhere be a "prostitution free zone"?

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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