Hey folx, 

So, the hearing for Bill 19-567: The Prostitution Free Zone Amendement Act (to make the PFZ’s permanent), was yesterday. And it went so great! We had the room stacked with people testifying against the amendment. There were only three or four folks testifying in favor, and more then ten against! It was a triumphant moment, and everyone made very compelling arguments against making the PFZ’s permanent. 

But the most surprising turn of events was when assistant police chief Peter Newsham came up to the podium to testify against the amendment, saying that “we cannot arrest our way out of the……..problem,” and that “at the end of the day, there’s got to be a better approach.”

The committee will make a decison in a few weeks, and we will be sure to update you as things develop. In the meantime, we will be publishing the testimonies from the hearing on this blog, as we think they are informative, inspiring, and useful in developing nuanced arguments about gentrification, community space, sex worker and lgbtq rights, and grassroots organizing.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you 

To everyone that signed the petition, reblogged, posted it on facebook, twitter, etc, called their councilmember, or submitted testimony THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR ANONYMOUS LITTLE HEARTS. WE LOVE YOU, AND WE LOVE DC!!!!

Below some links to news coverage of the hearing:

Washpo:#mce_temp_url#

WAMU:#mce_temp_url#

DCist:#mce_temp_url#

And keep signing the petition!!! Bug your friends!!!!

<3 <3