Craigslist Call to Action Campaign:

JIM BUCKMASTER, CEO OF CRAIGSLIST: STANDING ON THE HIGHEST MORAL GROUND?

“Putting aside the fact that craigslist legally can not be held liable in this
suit, we feel very strongly that the craigslist community of users is on the very
highest moral high ground with respect to fair housing, setting an example more
worthy of emulation than litigation.” Jim Buckmaster

Above is Mr. Buckmaster’s response to a lawsuit brought against Craigslist in
2006. The Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sued Craigslist for
100 allegedly discriminatory ads posted by Chicago users in a 6 month period. This
case was dismissed by the US District Court in Chicago, as of November 14, 2006.

Would he be able to make the same declaration regarding the erotic services section?
Does he want to? In Minnesota, a woman was sentenced on January 7, 2008 to five
years in prison for operating a prostitution ring employing high school students(
http://www.thisweek-online.com/2008/January/8womansent11208.html). Does this not
elicit moral outrage?

As you all know, Love146 formally launched our boycott on January 11, in
commemoration of The U.S. Human Trafficking Awareness Day. We continue to be
encouraged by all of you who have joined your voice to ours. To date, our supporters
and friends have sent in thousands of petition letters and e-mails to Craigslist
headquarters. New organization supporters include National Organization of Women
(CT), The Barnabas Institute, CraigsCrimelist.org, and the Paul and Lisa Program.
While we hope that a boycott will not have to last long, we have yet to receive a
response from Craigslist. A boycott is defined as the following: “to abstain from
or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression
of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion.” (www.dictionary.com) Remember,
our goal is to act together to persuade Craigslist to do the right thing.

Many of you have responded to the facts about Craigslist with wonderful creative
ideas of your own, and I encourage all of you share your ideas with me. For
example, supporters are writing letters and editorials to their local papers,
setting up info tables to inform others to sign the petition, organizing local press
conferences, e-mailing and writing Craigslist with their own suggestions on how the
“erotic services” section could be improved, and even investigating ways that we
could put pressure on eBay, which has a controlling interest in Craigslist.

Love146 recently helped to form a new coalition, End Internet Trafficking, to garner
further support across the country from other anti-trafficking and anti-child
exploitation organizations in appealing to Craigslist. Right now, the coalition is
in the process of organizing a public forum in San Francsisco in April, where Jim
Buckmaster will be invited to speak and share his perspective. More importantly,
this will be the public opportunity to challenge Mr. Buckmaster about Craigslist’s
lackluster efforts to eliminate human trafficking from its site and to have a
diplomatic and productive discussion on how to move forward. A successful meeting
will end our boycott.

In the meantime, please continue to encourage your friends and others to mail in
the petition letter and boycott Craigslist. Real change is possible, if we choose
to participate.

Abolition,

The Love146 Team

Kathy Maskell
U.S. Advocacy Director
kathy@love146.org
Please forward this onto a friend!
www.love146.org