On Tuesday, about 30 people calling themselves sex workers and illegal sellers gathered at Queen's seedy “lovers' market” to earn a living, calling on police to curb the heat.
Protesters say they are selling their bodies and stealing loot to survive, and repeated NYPD raids along Roosevelt Avenue, where they hang out, have made it difficult for them to make a living. said.
“I proudly call myself a 401K prostitute,” said consultant and sex worker Victoria von Black, who told police and the city, “I don't want to play Captain Save-a-Ho.” Please stop it.''
“I went out and got a job and got an education,” she said. “But we live in a world where people, no matter how qualified, are denied the simple right to equal employment and affirming medical treatment. Many of us have no choice but to return to the streets.
“My second job is as a sex worker,” Black said. “Why? Because we live in New York City. Where else do you know of where you can be considered working class if you don't make more than $100,000, or just live on what you're making? , if you don't want us to be sex workers, give us the resources that we actually want and need.”
Eliana Jaramillo, a street vendor in the area, complained about the fines she was being levied.
“I have experienced discrimination on the streets,” she said. “And now I've received four tickets, and these are not cheap tickets. These tickets go up to $1,000, and they're trying to arrest me. Yesterday, several people were arrested. Eight people were arrested on the street.
“They tried to arrest me too, just for trying to sell products on the street.”
Máxima Rodas, who heads the trans immigrant project Make the Road New York, told reporters that the police raids “indiscriminately targeted some of the most vulnerable residents.” .
“This so-called 'quality of life' operation targets sex workers, street vendors and migrant communities living in the area,” she said. “This is a racist and anti-immigrant attack on our community.”
The newspaper has repeatedly reported on the situation along Roosevelt Avenue, where local residents say immigrant brothels are open 24 hours a day, while vendors sell their wares on the sidewalk, often at nearby retail outlets. The suit alleges that the items are made up of items stolen from.
The NYPD conducted several raids, shut down seedy sex parlors, confiscated vendors' merchandise, and issued citations, all of which were returned after the officers left.
Earlier this month, Interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon toured the area for the first time, vowing to visit “once a week, twice a week” to address concerns.
Those leading the local movement to shut down the illegal open-air market include Democratic district leader Hiram Monserrate, who attempted to stage a counter-protest on Tuesday, only to be reprimanded.
“More resources, no more attacks,” protesters shouted at him.
“They're saying they represent the community even though we know it's false,” said Matteo Guerrero of Make the Road New York. “When you say you want to bring state troopers into these areas and get rid of the police, what you're saying is, I'm not going to give you housing, I'm going to give you access to health care. We're not going to provide any resources to schools.
“And that's not OK, because when I'm having conversations on the street, I ask people, 'What makes you feel safe?' People say, 'I want to go home.' I want to be able to have a roof over my head. I want to be able to put food plates on the table. I want to be able to receive an education. ”
When asked about the involvement of the Venezuelan migrant gang Trend de Aragua in illegal activities on the Strip, as law enforcement officials have alleged, protest leaders declined to comment.
