About 50 people jaywalked across some of the major streets in uptown Saint John Thursday afternoon, protesting city council's decision to look at cracking down on the sex trade.

Council passed a motion last week, asking police to look into the idea of using the city's bylaws to charge prostitutes with jaywalking and improper use of sidewalks to get them off the street.

The protesters, who were carrying signs with slogans, such as "Dignity for sex workers," and "Council voted to harass Saint John residents," hope to send a message to council.

Protesters say fining women for violating Saint John sidewalk bylaws won't get them out of the sex trade. (Matt McCann/CBC)

"They're going to have to charge everyone with jaywalking, not just the sex trade workers, because they are human, they are part of our community," said protester Cathy Goguen, a former sex worker who now works with AIDS Saint John.

"They could be your next door neighbour, and like I said, they're not bad people, they just have bad addictions."

Fining women for violating the city's Improper Usage of the Sidewalk bylaw won't solve the problem, said Goguen.

"They have a bad habit, and that habit takes over their whole life. Everything that you once were, you're not now, once you're on that addiction," she said.

'This is a big deal, and I don't think that what they're doing is right.'—Jen Fry, Fredericton student

The protest, which ended at City Hall, attracted some people from outside the city, including Jen Fry, who studies social work at St. Thomas University in Fredericton.

"This is a big deal, and I don't think that what they're doing is right," said Fry.

"I think council forgot … what Saint John is about," said Leslie Jeffrey, a professor and co-author of a book on the sex trade in the Maritimes.

"We are a progressive, modern city that works with people. We don't try to marginalize people," she said.

Council's decision also prompted an outcry last week from advocates and outreach workers who say it targets vulnerable women and makes their situation more dangerous.

Ward 2 Coun. Susan Fullerton, who also owns property in the uptown area, made the motion, saying the sex trade is hurting the city's image.

Council is expecting a report from police within 30 days.