“The city has abandoned us,” said Andrew Steelsmith, a resident who has spent years documenting the crime stemming from the city’s decision to decriminalize prostitution in 2020.
Hundreds of fed-up residents marched along Seattle's Aurora Avenue on Saturday night, in a neighborhood protest demanding immediate city intervention to end years of open-air prostitution, sex trafficking, and escalating gun violence. Organizers said that the city has refused to confront the crisis that has transformed their neighborhood into a war zone, and they would no longer tolerate gunshots flying into their children's bedrooms as a result of ongoing pimp turf wars.
The march drew roughly 300 people who took over Highway 99 on Aurora Avenue, holding signs reading "Stop the bullets" and "sex trafficking is not consensual."
"The city has abandoned us," said Andrew Steelsmith, a resident who has spent years documenting the crime stemming from the city's decision to decriminalize prostitution in 2020. "North Aurora belongs to the people of Greenwood, North Park, Licton Springs, Phinney Ridge, Bitter Lake, and Haller Lake," he continued. "Not the f*cking Johns, not the f*cking pimps!"
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Residents shared stories of dodging bullets, hearing gunfire near daycares and schools, and finding shell casings in their yards. The protest stems from long-standing grievances about the city's policy, which residents and officials claim has fueled open-air sex trafficking, with pimps engaging in turf wars that have resulted in drive-by shootings, including incidents in which bullets ripped through homes and came within feet of sleeping infants.
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The city of Seattle has repeatedly told residents that police cannot respond effectively to the issue because of low staffing. Despite the previous city administration adopting a "Stay Out of Area of Prostitution (SOAP)" ordinance in September 2024, which prohibits loitering for buying, selling, or promoting prostitution, the policy is not being enforced, residents said.
Former Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison, who helped organize the march and drafted the SOAP ordinance, called for a targeted public safety strategy. She believes the National Guard needs to respond to the crisis.
"We need the mayor to call the governor and the National Guard because, as we know, our city is low on numbers of police officers, and those low numbers that we do have are going to have to be concentrated at the games," said Davison to Center Square, referring to the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle. Additionally, she warned of "turf wars with the residential pimps" and the heightened risk to women and girls already being exploited.
Davison is not the only one who believes the National Guard should respond. Residents told The Post Millennial that they want to see President Trump order a federal crackdown on the area, citing the city's failure to act.
"The city needs to be serious about enforcing the law. In fact, I think the city is in over its head. We're talking about Cartel trafficking. I think they should call in for federal help, honestly. Get some help from President Trump! Why not?" said Victoria, a Seattle resident.
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King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion and senior deputy prosecutors also attended the march. Spokesperson Casey McNerthney told My Northwest, "I don't think I've ever seen a march like that on Aurora where neighbors have said, 'Hey, we're fed up, and we need help.'"
He highlighted the demand-side problem, noting that Washington law treats purchasing sex from an adult as a simple misdemeanor while pimps are quickly replaced due to ongoing buyer demand.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, a socialist, was notably absent, which angered residents further. "Where is the mayor?" became a rallying cry, with one resident shouting, "Do your job! Why are you not here?" Some city council members, such as Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle, were in attendance, as was City Attorney Erika Evans. However, also missing was city councilor Debra Juarez, who represents the impacted neighborhoods.
The situation has since drawn national attention, leaving residents hopeful that change could occur.
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