A protest I know that I am behind 100%. La Alameda organized a "liberacion" protest outside of an illegal whorehouse which contains enslaved women, some of whom are minors. This whorehouse was ALREADY denounced upon inspection and therefore should have shut down its operations by law. However, one girl escaped to La Alameda and informed them that it was in fact still operating. Now, considering that this location, a house btw, was already denounced, the heads at La Alameda informed the police so that they could handle it within in the limits of the law. However, knowing that the police would not follow through they also organized plan B: a "liberacion"protest.
This is where I was tonight.
The plan was to let the police go first and potentially do what they were supposed to do and shutdown the operations of the whorehouse. I think that this is fair. Then, we were to follow behind and if they did not comply we were going to protest outside of the whorehouse until 1 of 2 things happened: 1 they freed the girls 2 they allowed journalists inside to prove that operations were indeed shutdown and there was no reason to pursue the lucha (fight). Neither of these things happened.
Instead, 5 policeman blockaded the door to the whorehouse- blocking everyone who was inside... inside. Other policemen ventured inside the whorehouse. One of these proceeded up to the top window, opened it up, and started videotaping us
marching outside. I can't imagine what they would do with that footage- nothing legal thats for sure. This moment certainly sealed my understanding of the police corruption. The police were actively preventing the escape of women of an ALREADY LEGALLY DENOUNCED WHOREHOUSE. How horrifying to not be able to trust your
police forces!
I say this especially because both judicial support and police support is THE KEY to stopping the international slave trade. We can NOT do it outside of the law or without law enforcement's support. It's important to A. protect those who were liberated B. criminalize those who's wretched souls gave them the idea to exploit the life of a fellow human. Law enforcement and the judicial system allow for things like search warrants, and evidence collection. It allows for concrete recognition of this problem and concrete con
sequences.... assuming it's not corrupted.
And in Buenos Aires... it is DEFINITELY corrupted.
For more information go to La Alameda's website: http://laalameda.wordpress.com/?ref=spelling
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