Candlelight Vigil: Int'l Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

3rd Annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is meant to call attention to hate crimes and violence against sex workers all over the globe. Originally thought 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, it has grown to be a day for strategizing to end these acts as well as remember the victims. Over thirty cities around the world have participated in this event.

This year Sex Workers Outreach Project is expanding events to cover the entire week of December 17th so that we may diversify the forums for discussion around violence against sex workers.

The candlelight vigil portion of this event is meant to commemorate the lives of sex workers that have been taken as a result of violence and stigma. We believe that personifying this issue and pulling it out from under the rug will help to create social justice in the future. We are also organizing an art installation to be displayed at this event where people can voice their reactions to violence against sex workers. At the end of this posting is more info on our call for art.

The schedule of events for the week prior to the vigil is listed below:

Berkeley:
Thursday, December 15th: 6:30 PM till 8:30 PM
Memorial and Community Discussion
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists
1924 Cedar x Bonita

Oakland:
Saturday, December 17th: 10 AM-2 PM
Ending Violence, Discrimination and Stigma Around Sex Work
YWCA,
1515 Webster St.
Panel discussion in the morning followed by lunch

San Francisco:
Saturday December 17th : Dusk
Candlelight Vigil
Civic Center Plaza
Polk and Grove St In front of City Hall

Mark your calendars and keep your eyes peeled for more information soon
about these events!

What can YOU do to participate in the INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE
AGAINST SEX WORKERS?

One of the ways to contribute to this event is to submit original artwork and or written word to be displayed at the candle light vigil in Civic Center at dusk on December 17th. Make yourself be heard in the fight against this violence. Please submit your personal response to violence against sex workers, your vision of a better future for sex workers, and your message to the victims and/or perpetrators of these tragedies.

You can send or drop off your submissions Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, 333 Valencia St. Ste. #445 San Francisco, CA 94103 by December 10th. Please call in advance to let us know you are coming 415-341-7656.If you would like to volunteer to help at these events or if you would like to donate money, please email robyn@swop-usa.org or kelly@swop-usa.org .