Protesters in the “Red Light” district of Queens, New York, a neighborhood notorious for its seedy conditions, took to the streets to express their opposition to a recent police crackdown on prostitution. The area, which is also home to a large immigrant population, has long struggled with issues of human trafficking and organized crime.
On the streets of Roosevelt Avenue, a hub of activity for sex workers, protesters chased down former Senator Hiram Monserrate, who was being interviewed by the media. Monserrate, a Democrat, had been praising the efforts of police officers to clean up the neighborhood, but the protesters were having none of it. They demanded that the NYPD leave the district alone and stop shutting down the brothels, claiming that prostitution is a vital part of the community’s economy.
The protesters’ chants echoed through the streets, with one woman shouting “Sex work is work” and another declaring “God does not exist.” The rally was a vocal expression of the community’s frustration with the city’s efforts to clean up the neighborhood.
However, Monserrate was quick to respond to the criticism, releasing a statement that highlighted the severity of the problems plaguing the area. He noted that human trafficking, cartel activity, and prostitution were all major concerns, and that the neighborhood’s problems were not limited to the sex trade. “We need to address the root causes of these issues, not just the symptoms,” he said.
The city’s efforts to tackle prostitution in the area were launched last week with the deployment of over 200 police officers, including state troopers, as part of “Operation Restore Roosevelt.” The operation aims to crack down on prostitution and other illicit activities in the area, which is home to more brothels than bodegas.
