Protesters, including Frédérique Chabot (right), rallied at the Human Rights Monument on Dec 17, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. About 30 boisterous sex workers and allies marched from the monument to the Ottawa Police Services headquarters on Elgin St. Afterwards, protesters and their friends mingled at the Jack Purcell Community Centre.

Ottawa Police have been conducting regular street sweeps since the summer of 2007, netting hooker and johns in sting operations. Some of the laws used to target prostitutes are the same ones Canadian police used in bathhouse raids in 2000, 2002 and 2004.