Chicago: PROTEST THE CENSORING OF BACKPAGE.COM###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
###
Chicago, Illinois – Chicago Sex Workers and their supporters will present “Protest the censoring of Backpage,” taking place at 12 pm in front of Sheriff Tom Dart’s office, in Daley Plaza (50 W Washington) on Wednesday, January 18th, 2017.
Backpage.com, THE NUMBER ONE AND MOST EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING PLATFORM FOR SEX WORKERS across the globe, is under attack once again. This time the federal government has pressured Backpage to censor all of the sex work related posting sections.
This is not about trafficking or the sexual exploitation of children. Instead it is just the latest attempt to shut down online sex work advertising. First the Government went after the “adult services” section on Craigslist. Then they took down sex-ad forum MyRedbook.com, the queer sex work site Rentboy.com, and escort review forum The Review Board. And now Backpage. This will not stop sex work. Instead it makes sex work less safe.
Due to this censoring thousands of sex workers have immediately lost work, or are out of work altogether. In addition, workers are forced into hazardous conditions or become more vulnerable to harassment and arrest from police.
We want safe working conditions for ALL sex workers.
We want rights not rescue.
We want self-determination, and an end to criminalization.
This event is endorsed by Support Ho(se) Chi & The Sex Workers Outreach Project- Chicago chapter
Follow the hashtags:
#VivaBackpage
#SexWorkIsWork
#DecrimNow