Protest Against Village Voice's backpage.com "accelerator of underage sex trafficking"
Village Voice editor Tony Ortega has a penchant for basking in notoriety.
At a recent speech before a small crowd at his alma mater – Cal. State Fullerton – an appearance that was overshadowed by protesters demonstrating against Village Voice Media‘s Backpage.com, the classified web site that promotes underage prostitution and contributes to the epidemic of child rape and sex abuse, Ortega said of the pickets:
“They don’t really understand what is going on”, as he reveled in his self-appointed role as the leader of what he calls one of the most controversial newspapers in America.
But, talking to a handful of university students is one thing. How will Ortega respond to today’s demonstration against Village Voice Media’s exploitive sex ads on his home turf at the Village Voice headquarters in New York City?
Will he engage the protesters? And, will he again say “They don’t really understand what is going on”?
Given that the demonstration – put into action by a coalition of human rights groups, children’s advocates and even celebs – is to shine the spotlight on the ailing newspaper chain’s reliance on the debasement of children in exchange for a multi-million revenue stream, Ortega, indeed, may not be able to resist.
After all, he said that he likes the controversy.
See you at the protest, Tony.
