Women post half-page ad in Washington Post calling on Craigslist to pull "adult services" ads

[alp227]

The online classified advertising site, Craigslist, is facing accusations that it has become a hub for underage prostitution after two young women placed an advertisement in the Washington Post saying they were repeatedly sold through the site to men who "paid to rape" them.

The allegations came as a federal judge threw out an attempt by Craigslist – named after its owner, Craig Newmark – to stop a criminal investigation over its "adult services" section which is alleged to carry thousands of prostitution ads daily.

In an open letter to Newmark placed in the Washington Post, the two women appealed for him to shut Craigslist's adult services section.

One of the women, who identified herself as MC, said she was forced into prostitution at the age of 11 by a man who trafficked "many girls my age".

"All day, me and other girls sat with our laptops, pasting pictures and answering ads on Craigslist, he made $1,500 a night selling my body, dragging me to Los Angeles, Houston, Little Rock – and on one trip to Las Vegas in the trunk of a car," the ad said. "Craig we write this letter so you will know from our personal experiences how Craigslist makes horrific acts like this so easy to carry out … and the men who arrange them very rich."

Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/08/craigslist-underage-prostitution-allegations

Washington Post story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/06/AR2010080606376.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Where were MC's parents, and why is this man not in jail for intrastate child prostitution?

[ejpoeta]

2. i'm sorry but craigslist isn't at fault here. if it weren't for craigslist they could use some othe

means. they probably used the ads in the paper at some point before the internet.

[orion007]

4. I disagree, craigslist is a free magnet for these ads, and attracts

all kinds of sickos, those advertising and those looking.
Let them pay to place ads in newspapers, this will eliminate the huge amount of services being offered by the hour on CS,and also help protect many young people from answering these ads.

[leveymg]

3. The Post is desperate to close down CL altogether. WaPo wants the ad revenues.

Nobody advertises in The Post for anything, anymore.