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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOccupy Oakland protests anti-child sex trafficking conference
http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2012/06/16/bringing-heat“Whose inside this conference?” said one demonstrator who spoke during a 20-minute speak-out in front of the hotel that afternoon. “61 official speakers are law enforcement agents, DA workers, or politicians with anti-sex worker reputations. 39 speakers are individuals or representatives of non-profits. The vast majority of these work directly with law enforcement or politicians to criminalize sex workers. Where is the voice of the sex workers?”
"What we find disturbing as anti-capitalists and anti-authoritarians is these police who, to sex workers, are oppressing us,” Clarissa McFaye, one of the demonstrators, told me in an interview. “We know that police are a very violent, fearsome presence in the lives of all sex workers, and we feel the only way that we can abolish child trafficking and exploitative forms of labor, which is all labor in actuality, is to abolish the police state.”
“They think working to enforce criminalization isn't going to help child victims of sexual slavery. We know they exist, but we don’t feel this is a solution. We don’t think enhancing the ability to arrest people is a solution,” said McFaye.
Happy Days and Jaws come to mind.
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geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)“People have choices in how they use their bodies, and that includes youth. We are living in a world where sometimes people have to choose options that are not ideal,” he said.
McFaye painted a similar picture, saying that “sex work is a form of work that all genders do sex work can make a lot more money than other options.”
“It allows me to do my political work as well as work a few times a week, instead of working at McDonalds. When I was 17 years old I tried to get a job, couldn’t find anything but shitty house cleaning jobs. Then some sex workers I knew showed me the ropes, and my life’s been a lot better ever since,” she said.
TheWraith
(24,331 posts)Although I would imagine it's lost on most DUers.
Even though I'm completely in favor of legalizing prostitution, which can only improve the lives and working conditions of prostitutes, protesting an anti-child-sex-trafficking conference is bordering on the ludicrous.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)I'm in favor of decriminalizing prostitution as far as the women are concerned--but throw the book at johns and especially pimps.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)TheWraith
(24,331 posts)To do otherwise is basically the same as saying that it's legal to sell drugs, it's just not legal to use them. European countries have no problem with legalizing the entire act of prostitution, neither has Nevada, but the rest of the country is trapped in traditionalism. Although I have no problem with prosecuting pimps to the full extent of the current laws and then some.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)andvictim and the johns as the exploiter.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)
Zorra
(27,670 posts)Got an agenda?
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)I think a protest at this event was misguided.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)
Robb
(39,665 posts)I'm certain the logic of the protest only escapes me because I just don't get it, and if I have to ask, etc.
LiberalFighter
(50,928 posts)against sex trafficking of any type. Motives? Government funding? Political career?
I trust law enforcement less and less.
randome
(34,845 posts)I guess you question the motives of officers who respond to domestic abuse situations. And murders. And rapes.
LiberalFighter
(50,928 posts)or using the issue for personal political gain or to increase their funding without actually doing anything for the purpose.
Just like during the Super Bowl the sex trafficking is not as major as they claimed.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)in law enforcement that wants to enforce laws against sexually trafficking children.
That is odd.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)LiberalFighter
(50,928 posts)
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)
Sid
Robb
(39,665 posts)rug
(82,333 posts)daaron
(763 posts)
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)that would be possible.
Protesting people who have gathered to discuss how to curb child sex trafficking?
Idiots.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Conflating the issues won't help the cause.
randome
(34,845 posts)When Occupy Wall Street (remember that name? It's been a while since we've heard it) began, it stood for highlighting economic disparities.
Then it became about camping out in public parks and taking over public buildings.
Then it became about fighting the police for their first amendment rights to take over parks and buildings.
Finally it became about fighting the police. Period. Now it is about being against law enforcement actions in general.
We can argue all day -and then some- about who is to blame for this state of affairs but the plain FACT of the matter is that OWS is no longer talking about economic disparities. The message is gone.
