Stop The Raids: Sex Workers Protest Hydee Feldstein Soto's Criminalization
On December 18th, 2023, a significant and powerful protest took place at Los Angeles City Hall. Organized by The Stop The Raids Coalition's Los Angeles branch and local sex worker groups, this event was a 'Die-In' demonstration to call attention to the policies of City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. These policies, under the guise of combating sex trafficking, have been criminalizing and harassing sex workers and their clients, using the outdated Red Light Abatement Act of 1913. This has led to the shutdown of motels where sex workers had been able to work safely indoors.
Soma Snakeoil, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Sidewalk Project of Los Angeles, emphasized the need for decriminalization of sex work and the protection of their living and workspaces. This protest also commemorated the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, created in 2003 as a memorial for the victims of the Green River Killer. It brought together sex worker groups from across America to demand the decriminalization of their occupation, highlighting endorsements from international organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the World Health Organization.
Antonia Crane, a sex worker, union organizer, and PhD candidate at USC, pointed out the crucial need for decriminalization for the protection and dignity of sex workers. The misguided targeting of 'sex trafficking' along the Figueroa corridor by the City Attorney's office was criticized for being a thinly veiled attempt to stop consensual commercial sex. This enforcement is seen as pushing sex workers into more dangerous areas, increasing violence risks.
The video also underscores the harsh reality that for many, sex work has become a necessary means of survival due to systemic failures in addressing poverty, homelessness, and domestic violence. It critiques the use of public resources for arrests that exacerbate the challenges faced by sex workers, instead of addressing broader societal issues.
For more information and to take action, visit https://stoptheraids.org/LA
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