New York State repealed the loitering for purposes of prostitution law and the Bronx and Queens have joined in dismissing outstanding warrants on the charge, which advocates say disproportionately harms trans people, women and people of color.

"This is a historical step, hopefully the first of many, towards undoing some of the harm against women, particularly Black and brown women in Brooklyn," Jillian Modzeleski of Brooklyn Defender Services said.

Of those vacated Wednesday, 296 pertained to cases with a top count of prostitution and 561 were for a top count of loitering for the purposes of prostitution.

View the full Patch article, here.