BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Scores of protesters demonstrated in front of the federal courthouse in Brooklyn Thursday over prostitution charges filed last week against those operating gay escort website RentBoy.com.
Last week, RentBoy’s offices were raided in New York by the Department of Homeland Security and its staff of six, plus its the CEO, were arrested. RentBoy’s website was subsequently seized and its bank accounts were frozen by authorities.
Today, protesters were armed with placards, reading “Let Sex Workers Go Free,” “Criminalization Is Dehumanization,” and “Sex Workers Rights = Human Rights,” among many other statements.
One group, the #Hookup Collaborative, distributed a leaflet at the Brooklyn protest today, according to a report. "The agencies involved in the RentBoy.com raid will rip up the modicum of safety we've carved out on third party platforms," the leaflet said.
Other RentBoy.com protests are scheduled this weekend.
In San Francisco, demonstrators will meet at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Harvey Milk Plaza, 2401 Market St.
In Los Angeles, protesters will gather at 1 p.m. on Saturday at La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvds. by the Total Tan storefront.