December 17th is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, organized by the Sex Workers 
Organizing Project (SWOP), It was first conceived of by
Dr. Annie Sprinkle and started by the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA as a memorial and vigil for the victims of the Green River Killer in Seattle Washington. International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers has empowered workers from over cities around the world to come together and organize against discrimination and remember victims of violence. During the week of December 17th, sex worker rights organizations will be staging actions and vigils to raise awareness about violence that is commonly committed against sex workers. The assault, battery, rape and murder of sex workers must end. Existing laws prevent sex workers from reporting violence. The stigma and discrimination that is perpetuated by the prohibitionist laws has made violence against us acceptable. Please join with sex workers around the world and stand against criminalization and violence committed against prostitutes.
In the United States, there’s a Washington march and rally, but if you can’t make that, Annie Sprinkle has a list of other things you can do:
On December 17th, people around the world will be calling attention
to hate crimes against sex workers, namely prostitutes. Here are some
suggestions and options for ways to participate. Or by all means,
make up your own.
- Do something of personal meaning alone at home; take a ritual
bath, or simply think about those who have died, light a candle,
make a wish, have a cry, call a friend and discuss the topic, etc.
- Write a short personal quote or a statement about violence against
sex workers and send to the SWOP web site for
them to post. - Send a donation to a nonprofit group that helps sex workers
stay safer. - Organize a public memorial event in your town. If not, choose
a place, and time, where you can gather. Make an email letter and/or
flyer and get it around with news of the event. Invite people to
bring writings, stories, readings, thoughts, related news items,
poems, performances, etc. Make a circle at the event. Take turns
sharing. This will make for a wonderful memorial and be great for
consciousness raising and outreach as well. - Organize a panel discussion about violence towards sex workers.
You can ask a church or other community space if you can do it there. - Send news of this event to any and all press you know, so the
word gets out that there are people who care about murdered sex
workers, and who are concerned with the safety of sex workers out
there today. - Attend one of the events which is listed on the SWOP web site.
- If you know any sex workers, send them some information about
self-defense. - Send a personal email letter to people telling them how you
feel about violence against sex workers and the women who were murdered
by serial killer Gary Ridgway. Or email this letter around. - Read Daisy Anarchy’s poem, click
here, to yourself or to friends, or at one of the public events. Or email it around.
Maybe I’m thinking along the lines of sin city, but Sex Workers should have their own safe havens where they run their own operations.