The Rhode Island chapter of Coyote joins sex workers, allies and advocates from around the world in recognizing December 17th as "International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Providence, RI: On December 17, for the first time, Rhode Island will join
more than 20 other cities in the Unites States and 40 cities
internationally to recognize the International Day to End Violence Against
Sex Workers. Local sex workers rights group COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired
Ethics) RI, <http://www.coyoteri.org> and other local activists, advocates
and allies will gather at the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center at Brown
University from 6-8 pm to recognize the everyday violence sex workers
experience and to honor those who have lost their lives.
The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was founded in
2003 by Annie Sprinkle because of Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer,
was caught and confessed to killing over 90 prostitutes. Ridgeway said
that because of the social position of prostitutes, he believed he could
kill as many as he wanted without getting caught and without anyone
caring. Sadly, many Seattle sex workers knew exactly who Gary Ridgeway was
for years but were afraid of coming forward and being arrested, or when
they did come forward the police didn’t seem to care.
“In 2009 Phillip Markoff, also known as the Craigslist killer,
murdered Julissa
Brisman of Boston. Then he came to RI and tried to rob a escort. The
escort was able to dial 911 because she had "equal protection under the
law" and the killer was caught quickly. Later in 2009 prostitution
became criminalized in Rhode Island and local sex workers are currently
fearful of turning to the police for help when they are victims of violent
crimes.
In May 2010 Shannan Gilbert went missing
<http://altereddimensions.net/2012/long-island-serial-killer> Shortly
after 17 bodies were found, which are believed to be the victims of The
Long Island Serial Killer
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_serial_killer> (aka The Gilgo
Beach Killer) is an unidentified suspected American serial killer who is
believed to have murdered up to 17 people associated with the sex trade and
dumped their bodies along Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach and Oak Beach, in
Suffolk and Nassau County.
December 2012, Dr Louis B Schlesinger, a professor of forensic psychology
at John Jay College and serial killer expert,
<http://archive.longislandpress.com/2012/12/06/questions-remain-in-long-island-serial-killer-case-two-years-later/>said
“the public should not hold it breath waiting for an arrest”. There’s two
separate incidents here, he says. “We were searching for Shannan Gilbert
and we found another set of circumstances that appear to be totally
unrelated”.
December 12th 2015, former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke
<http://nypost.com/2015/12/12/busted-ex-police-chief-blocked-fbi-probe-of-gilgo-beach-murders/>
was denied bail on a misconduct case- stymied the FBI investigation into
the Gilgo Beach serial- killings for years. After 5 years the FBI finally
agrees to investigate Gilgo Beach Murders
<http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/fbi-larger-role-gilgo-beach-murders-investigation-article-1.2461853>.
It seems the murders of sex workers is not a priority. Law enforcement
often refers to sex workers as NHI for “no human involved” We are left
asking ourselves, what really happened in Gilgo Beach?
<http://projects.newsday.com/long-island/gilgo-beach-murders/#what-happened>
Due to criminalization and societal stigma, sex workers experience
extremely high levels of violence. In 2015, there were 120 sex workers
murdered.
<http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ee3e7e4ec6261126b4569dd18&i d=d08da46fe8>41
of those sex workers were murdered in the US.
This year's International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers will
include speakers and a candlelight vigil where the names of those murdered
will be read. One local name will be read on December 17 is Ashley Masi a
24 year old mother of 3, who was murdered by Daniel Tejeda
<http://wpri.com/2015/04/01/friends-mourn-loss-of-providence-homicide-victim/>
in her Providence apartment in April 2015.”
“Criminalization and stigma has created the perfect playground for bad cops
and predators to continue to rob, rape and murder sex workers with
impunity. That needs to stop and we’re holding this vigil to show that sex
workers deserve equal protection under the law.”
says Bella Robinson, Executive Director of COYOTE RI. "It’s time to change
the social perception that sex workers aren’t people who deserve to live
and work with dignity in safe conditions,
To help support sex worker rights, please make a tax deductible donation to
support our historical lawsuit. ESPLER VS GASCON
<http://decriminalizesexwork.com/>
https://liberatetoemancipate.tilt.com/
More information about December 17 events can be found at the facebook
event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1012865432111683/
More information about December 17 and worldwide events can be found a
Website: http://www.december17.org
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