Dear Craig: Quit selling sex with kids.

Who hasn't bought something from Craigslist?

I'm sitting on a chair I bought on Craigslist. I even bought a Christmas tree one year from this popular site.

You can buy anything on Craigslist. Even a person. Even a child. In fact Craigslist is one of the top sponsors--and benefactors of--human trafficking.

This video by the Rebecca Project describes how young girls are lured into prostitution and how Craigslist has become the primary marketplace for trafficking.

I've written about this in the past (here, here, here, and here) and have stopped patronizing Craigslist. The company claims to monitor the site, but anyone can easily find children (and adults) to abuse.

"It's just like Ebay--only it's a human being."

I hope you're as outraged as I am by Craigslist's continued refusal to do anything to stop their flagrant trafficking of women and children.  Later this week a massive coalition of 75 anti-trafficking organizations and other groups will protest in front of Craigslist headquarter in San Francisco:

Thursday, July 8, 2010
Craigslist headquarters
1381 9th Avenue (Between Judah and Irving Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94122
12:00 – 2:00 PM

More info here.

“Craigslist continues to cynically profit by functioning as an online pimp,” says Norma Ramos, executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, one of the organizers of the event.

“Craigslist is the new stroll where pimps traffic, johns buy, and Craigslist profits,” adds Melissa Farley, executive director, Prostitution Research and Education.

Massive money-maker for Craigslist

According to statements released by organizers of this week's protest:

• Craigslist is projected to realize a 22% increase in revenue--an estimated $36 million in 2010--largely because it functions as a virtual red light district for pimps/traffickers and johns.
• Craigslist displays a reckless disregard for human rights by increasingly becoming a part of the sex industry.
• Craigslist could act to create a sex trafficking free internet by no longer hosting prostitution ads and thereby setting an industry standard.

What you can do about it

Here's what the Rebecca Project recommends:

1. Read the Dear Craig letter from two survivors who were trafficked on Craigslist.

2. Place a free ad on Craigslist and include this message: "Dear Craig: Don’t turn your back on young girls. They should be safe, not sold. Shut down the Adult Services section."

3. Post this message on your Facebook page: “Don't let Craigslist put profit above protection. Tell Craig to quit selling sex with kids" and put a link to Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster on Facebook

4. Post a personal message to Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster on Facebook urging them to close the Adult Services Section of Craigslist.

5. Tweet the same message to Craig Newmark: http://twitter.com/craignewmark

This is my 5th post about Craigslist and this horrendous subject. I hope it's the last.

* * *

UPDATE:  I tweeted #5 above and a few moments later received a tweet from Craig Newmark telling me to "please stick with honest info."

 

Comments

[Peggy]

Blessings Diana
Thank you for keeping us informed!
Keep it up.

Excellent post as always with good info and I especially like how you give "what can we do?"

I have never used Craig's list, not would I now EVER...but I'm sure there not the only one though major one as you pointed out!

If you find out how this went on July 8th...let us know.

I am outraged once again but I want to see others informed and outraged too! That's why it's so good that you keep us informed!
Thanks!
Peggy

[Diana Scimone]

Hi Katy, Did you actually post a want ad with it? I think that's how Rebecca Project is recommending we do it -- post a want ad and then copy that tagline at the end. Probably if you posted only the tagline, they would delete it. But thank you for trying and for your support. You made a statement and someone at Craigslist saw it, so that is good.
Diana Scimone

[Katy (@discoveryhouse)]

I posted the notice on Craigslist and received notification that I broke one of their rules and they were removing it.

Has anyone else mentioned having this trouble?

[ThingsBright]

Thank you for working against trafficking - this post is very helpful!

[kv]

This is one of the most amazing posts yet. I posted a note to Craig and Jim on their FB site. Don't know how long it'll be there. Shared it with my email list and on fb. Foxnews is the only one that has done a piece on this site. Nothing has been done since. Cops do undercover through it but it's just not enough...we must be an advocate. Thanks for your step by step on how to make this stop via craigslist. :)