Author Archives: sxhxcollective7

#FreeThemAll Seed Quilt: Community Healing and Art Making

So much love and appreciation for Love & Protect, Prison+Neighborhood Arts Project, Rogers Park Seed Library, and Stitch x Stitch Con for yesterday’s (Wednesday, July 13th) beautiful gathering. Hearing Alisha, Monica and Sandra’s poetry recharged our hearts. It was so powerful to participate in building a communal art piece to be installed outside of LoganContinue reading “#FreeThemAll Seed Quilt: Community Healing and Art Making”

Celebrating Alisha’s Freedom Day, one year on!

Today we celebrate ONE YEAR of our friend, comrade, sibling, and organizer Alisha being home!! As Red put it, “My friend has been home for a year. It’s been wild, full of learning, love, and boundaries (!), care, and messiness and most days I still wake up and check my phone to make sure IContinue reading “Celebrating Alisha’s Freedom Day, one year on!”

New Stable Link for our SW Syllabus!

We’ve created a more web stable link to our Sex Work Syllabus document. We continue to hope this archive of our internal political education reading group materials (from 2015 – 2018) is useful for your self-guided or group organized learning/discussing/making! During those first few years of our organizing, we voraciously read, watched, listened to andContinue reading “New Stable Link for our SW Syllabus!”

“From the Frontlines: Understanding Sex Worker-led Movements”

From Chris Giraldo of the Sex Worker Giving Circle, “I’m so thrilled to share that the SWGC and our brilliant comrades and SWGC grantee partner orgs The Kua’ana Project, Support Ho(s)e, and SWOP Los Angeles took over the latest issue of the Quarterly Journal on Responsive Philanthropy, titled “From the Frontlines: Understanding Sex Worker-Led Movements”. I’m so honored to haveContinue reading ““From the Frontlines: Understanding Sex Worker-led Movements””

One of our comrades to present at “Exhibitionism: Sexuality at the Museum” 2021 conference

Saturday, December 11th Reflections from a Movement Art Whorestorian / The Sex Worker Gazes Back 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM EST Talk Description: Reflections from a Movement Art Whorestorian / The Sex Worker Gazes Back will be a presentation space that documents, names and traces sex worker movement organizing, art making, curating, and resistance fromContinue reading “One of our comrades to present at “Exhibitionism: Sexuality at the Museum” 2021 conference”

Funeral & Family Support Funds Needed

Dearest comrades, // CW for mentions of death of a community member below // Alisha’s beloved (step) father passed very unexpectedly. We are writing to ask if y’all could please share and give so that Alisha and her loved ones have the financial support they urgently need. Derrick was a kind, gentle and extremely supportiveContinue reading “Funeral & Family Support Funds Needed”

Current Status: Media Hiatus

We’re currently on a journalism/media hiatus for all requests–especially with regard to student journalists. Please see a guide we put together years ago, to support media workers in being better accomplices, under the digital publications section of this site. If you’re a student journalist, and REALLY want to get our attention/time/energy, consider offering to letContinue reading “Current Status: Media Hiatus”

Let’s welcome Alisha home!

The most recent art fundraiser raffle may be over, but our comrade Dante (they/them) has some words for you to encourage folx to keep sharing and giving to Alisha’s welcome home fund! Please join us in these final pushes to welcome our dear comrade home with an abundance of resources!! http://gofundme.com/support-alisha-walker http://bit.ly/FundLeLe

New article from our comrades Alisha and Red for International Whore’s Day 2021

Something Red and Alisha have been working on for quite some time about the violence of prison technology and the importance of inside/outside communication, is finally debuting today in honor of International Whore’s Day! Please read and share, “Care and Connection as Resistance to State Violence and Surveillance” with your communities! Many thanks to Hacking//HustlingContinue reading “New article from our comrades Alisha and Red for International Whore’s Day 2021”

Virtual poetry workshops that benefit Alisha’s coming home fund!

Our comrade Donna has created MORE beautiful virtual writing spaces to help continue raising funds for Alisha’s post-release and welcome home needs! Check out the latest series of event we’re debuting: tinyurl.com/Poems4Hos and register soon! Spaces will fill up!

Generative Virtual Letter Writing Gathering + Fundraising event

Register here: tinyurl.com/Letters4Hos This letter writing workshop series is conducted to raise post- release funds for a dear friend and comrade Alisha Walker. Learn more about Alisha here: http://bit.ly/AlishaWalker During this generative letter writing workshop you will learn: Things to keep in mind before you begin writing to an incarcerated person.Best practices of letter writingContinue reading “Generative Virtual Letter Writing Gathering + Fundraising event”

Support Ho(s)e Turns 5!

Today, we’re turning 5 years young as a collective!!! We’re taking time to reflect on the last five years and invite you to support our work by donating to Alisha’s post-release fund, celebrating the launch of our latest yearbook zine and purchasing copies of our benefit zines + buttons! https://sxhxcollective.org/store/   In late March ofContinue reading “Support Ho(s)e Turns 5!”

RED CANARY SONG RESPONSE TO SHOOTINGS AT GOLD MASSAGE SPA, YOUNG’S ASIAN MASSAGE & AROMA THERAPY SPA

From the Red Canary Song solidarity + response statement: “Decriminalization of sex work is the only way that sex workers, massage workers, sex trafficking survivors, and anyone criminalized for their survival and/or livelihood will ever be safe.” We’ve signed on in support. Read the full statement here, listen to and act on its demands: ****Continue reading “RED CANARY SONG RESPONSE TO SHOOTINGS AT GOLD MASSAGE SPA, YOUNG’S ASIAN MASSAGE & AROMA THERAPY SPA”

Protect Asian Women, Asian Massage Parlor Workers, Asian Sex Workers

From Red Canary Song: “Eight workers in massage parlors have been killed in Atlanta. This is horrific, and is indicative of the violence that massage workers face daily. We are saddened and angered to learn of this, and we are sending our love to the workers in Atlanta.” Our hearts break and we are filledContinue reading “Protect Asian Women, Asian Massage Parlor Workers, Asian Sex Workers”

March 8th: International Working Women + Femmes Day!

From our dear comrade Caty Simon of Whose Corner Is It Anyway: This International Women’s Day, please donate to the 150 + low-income sex working, drug-using, housing insecure, Boricua, Dominican, Black, Native, and white cis and trans women of Whose Corner and all our organizing and mutual aid on each other’s behalf. Please help WhoseContinue reading “March 8th: International Working Women + Femmes Day!”

WWAV’s “Deep South Decrim Toolkit”

It’s been time for the world to be unapologetic about the survival of sex working people! We rise up with our comrades Women With A Vision, INC. in Louisiana calling on all their community members to utilize their newly released “Deep South Decrim toolkit” to get educated and to push for the decriminalization of ALLContinue reading “WWAV’s “Deep South Decrim Toolkit””

The Sex Worker Giving Circle Fellowship Application is OPEN!

Sharing this latest news from our comrades at Third Wave Fund: The Sex Worker Giving Circle Fellowship application is now live! 2021 Fellows will lead the SWGC in raising money, building community & political power, & making at least $550K in grants to SW-led groups, our biggest year yet. Deadline to apply: 3/14. Spread theContinue reading “The Sex Worker Giving Circle Fellowship Application is OPEN!”

St. Valentine’s Day in San Francisco declared Margo St. James Day & Memorial Save the Date!

San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and the St. James Infirmary, named for its most storied founder Margo St. James, announced that St. Valentine’s Day in San Francisco is now officially, Margo St. James Day. St. James, who founded the prostitutes’ rights organization, COYOTE, (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), and later, the St. James Infirmary,Continue reading “St. Valentine’s Day in San Francisco declared Margo St. James Day & Memorial Save the Date!”

Guest Blog Post: Kristal Lis

Kristal Lis is a self-described survivor, mother, daughter, avid reader, animal lover, college student, and advocate for justice who is currently incarcerated at York Correctional Institution in Connecticut. With her supporters outside, Kristal has created a blog where she will regularly speak out about the violence she is surviving at York CI and share herContinue reading “Guest Blog Post: Kristal Lis”

“Ending Violence Against Sex Workers Means Abolishing Police and Prisons”

Much of the violence experienced by people doing sex work is at the hands of the carceral state; the sexual and physical violence experienced at the hands of clients, abusive partners and neighborhood vigilantes is a direct result of the state’s permissiveness of all forms of violence toward those stigmatized, marginalized and criminalized in society.Continue reading ““Ending Violence Against Sex Workers Means Abolishing Police and Prisons””

Commemorating International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers with Art + Poetry

December 17th is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. On this day, and always, we honor the memories and lives of those taken from our community and recommit ourselves to solidarity–to the struggle to decriminalize + destigmatize our work and demand an end to criminalization. This is a day to demand the endContinue reading “Commemorating International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers with Art + Poetry”

We Too: Essays on Sex Work and Survival

Mark your calendars! We’re so excited about this The Feminist Press launch event for “WeToo: Essays on Sex Work and Survival” that was just scheduled with Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center for February 18th, 2021. You can purchase suggested donation tickets here. This virtual launch event will be hosted by the amazing Tina Horn!Continue reading “We Too: Essays on Sex Work and Survival”

Updates from Alisha as of this afternoon, 12/12/20:

Alisha has been moved to Housing Unit 4, the “sick unit.” She’s dealing with bad headaches now but no other change, it’s definitely covid, her test results came back positive. For now, she can still call and email but is unsure about video visits because the GTL kiosk screen on the “sick unit” has beenContinue reading “Updates from Alisha as of this afternoon, 12/12/20:”

Alisha’s covid testing updates

Logan Prison COs are pulling Alisha and others off their unit this morning (12/10/20) for testing. She got a call out to Red and Sherri to let them know. If positive for covid, she likely won’t be able to call for 2 weeks because there’s only one phone on the so-called “quarantine” unit. That “quarantine”Continue reading “Alisha’s covid testing updates”

Keep LeLe in your hearts…

Comrades, our fears are playing out every day, and now this. One of our organizers just had a video visit with Alisha and let us know that Lele is sick with COVID like symptoms and will be tested on Thursday. The delay is apparently due to the prison wanting to wait in order to saveContinue reading “Keep LeLe in your hearts…”

Giving Tuesday!

It’s #GivingTuesday and our dear comrades Uptown People’s Law Center + Lifted Voices have helped us create a new, tax-deductible platform to boost our post-release fund for Alisha! Donate TODAY to show up for a criminalized survivor as we plan for her release. Our goal is to raise $10K for this #GivingTuesday for Alisha’s post-releaseContinue reading “Giving Tuesday!”

Action Reminder!

Logan Prison is on increased lockdown AGAIN because a CO tested positive. Governor JB Pritzker, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton when will our loved ones be released?? Our friends, family and comrades are trapped inside these deadly cages. We see and hear about this injustice. We are watching. Comrades, rise up with us to call, email,Continue reading “Action Reminder!”

Audio Interference + Survived & Punished NY podcast episode featuring Alisha!

Audio Interference 77.5: Archiving Abolition—Alisha Walker Listen to the episode here. Letters from Comrades on the Inside: In this episode, we hear from Alisha Walker, a comrade on the inside whose story is uplifted by Survived and Punished. She shares her experiences as an incarcerated person and her thoughts on justice and access to information.Continue reading “Audio Interference + Survived & Punished NY podcast episode featuring Alisha!”

Updates from LeLe (9/23/20)

Last night Alisha had another video visit cancelled, but she was able to have one earlier in the week with another of our comrades and she was able to get a call out this morning with updates from “Hell” aka Logan Correctional.  After almost all of her personal items (clothes, letters, food, photos, bedding, etc)Continue reading “Updates from LeLe (9/23/20)”

“USPS attacks threaten ‘transformative’ prison pen pal programs”

Survived & Punished NY (S&P NY) is the New York chapter of Survived & Punished, a national organization that seeks to end the criminalization of survivors of gender violence. Red, an organizer with both S&P NY and the Support Ho(s)e Collective, helped draft the group’s best practices and guides for letting writing. S&P NY has hosted in-personContinue reading ““USPS attacks threaten ‘transformative’ prison pen pal programs””

Introductions!

For our newer fam visiting our site! We’re a TINY formation of militant sex working people + trusted accomplices who put our energy into building radical ho community via agitating publicly + politically educating + resource + art making efforts! We also coordinate our incarcerated comrade Alisha Walker’s defense campaign #FreeLeLe, and support two ofContinue reading “Introductions!”

Alisha Walker: Survived & Punished

We’d love for y’all to check out this video resource we co-created with Survived & Punished, Mariame Kaba and BCRW about Alisha’s case back in 2017/2018: https://vimeo.com/255412331 This video was conceived by Mariame Kaba and narrated by CeCe McDonald. Directed and produced by Dean Spade and Hope Dector. Audio editing by Lewis Wallace. Artwork andContinue reading “Alisha Walker: Survived & Punished”

Bluestockings Bookstore Fundraiser!

Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center, this beautiful space + its comrades has opened it doors to multiple events supporting our comrade Alisha, letter writing events for incarcerated sex workers, #IWDNYC celebrations and so much more. They truly encourage sex worker-led movement building, and resource us whores constantly! bit.ly/bstoxmove

Update as of Wednesday, August 5th!

Alisha is finally out of quarantine/isolation after her forced relocation/transfer to Logan prison from Decatur prison. She just got a call out to Red and wanted some updates shared!  She’s beginning to recover from stomach/digestive issues that were a result of her not having access to safe drinking water or edible food for the pastContinue reading “Update as of Wednesday, August 5th!”

Watch: IWD 2020 Digital Rally recap video!

The International Whores Day NYC recap video is here! Watch and share widely! Video link here: #IWDNYC2020 A recap of the 2020 IWD Digital Rally staged by NYC and Philly sex working organizers. We invited you to protest, celebrate, support, and flood our feeds with messages of love and solidarity with sex workers — youContinue reading “Watch: IWD 2020 Digital Rally recap video!”

We got word from LeLe last night (7/30)!

Those who’ve been emailing her, she’s sending updates as fast as those CO censors will approve them!  She’s got lots of takes on Logan vs Decatur! She’s hating the isolation, the lack of edible food, the lack of art supplies but she is looking forward to reconnecting with friends + family inside at Logan.  She’sContinue reading “We got word from LeLe last night (7/30)!”

Update as of Wednesday 7/22: LeLe forcibly relocated to Logan Prison

We received word from our emergency phone tree that Alisha is being relocated (against her will) to Logan prison. We do not know specifically why, but we believe it is in direct relation to the existing harassment and retaliation she has recently endured. Her mom Sherri was able to get through to the prison to confirmContinue reading “Update as of Wednesday 7/22: LeLe forcibly relocated to Logan Prison”

Update from Alisha (as of 7/21) via email

C-grade kicked in so I cant make phone calls! I don’t know what else that includes as of right now..I can only call on Mondays I think? Tell everyone please! Idk about video visits? I just don’t know about anything, but I’m grieving it all because it’s very excessive for what actually happened! So it’sContinue reading “Update from Alisha (as of 7/21) via email”

Updates from Alisha as of Tuesday, 7/14

Alisha sends her love and appreciation to everyone who’s been calling, writing, emailing and faxing to support her clemency and to demand an end to solitary confinement and punishment against inside organizing. She asks to please keep it up! Please see bit.ly/AlishaAdvocate for how to get involved!  So far, there has been only one incident that we’ve heardContinue reading “Updates from Alisha as of Tuesday, 7/14”

July 8 // Actions to support Alisha!

Starting at 10AM cst! Call throughout the afternoon!  Phone/Email/Fax Jam for LeLe + demanding an end to solitary confinement (aka SEG) + the immediate release of everyone caged inside IDOC!  Sample Letter/Email/Fax/Call Script:  My name is _______, and I’m (calling/writing) to demand an end to solitary confinement (aka “SEG”) and retaliation against the self-organizing amongstContinue reading “July 8 // Actions to support Alisha!”

Update from Alisha // Monday, July 6th

After 5 days without contact, we finally heard from our friend. Alisha called Red around 2:30pm today, immediately after being released from “SEG” (solitary confinement) after 5 days of severe isolation. On Thursday, July 2nd Alisha and several other comrades gathered (what she described as peacefully sitting together) to discuss their growing concerns for eachContinue reading “Update from Alisha // Monday, July 6th”

Video Visit with Alisha cancelled

Well the prison cancelled Red + AH’s first video visit with Alisha this morning. No warning, started the visit, empty chair where LeLe should be and then shut it off after 2 min. They waited for their second visit (so they’d have almost half an hour to visit) and that one was left on aContinue reading “Video Visit with Alisha cancelled”

$80k raised for Give OUT Day!

We heard y’all really showed up for Third Wave Fund’s Sex Worker Giving Circle yesterday for Give OUT Day 💗 The grand total was over $80k raised to resource grassroots sex worker-led organizing!  Thank you to everyone who gave and/or amplified the fundraising efforts! You’re helping to build community power and resource the most impacted toward all our collectiveContinue reading “$80k raised for Give OUT Day!”

“Prison Is Abuse: Understanding Prisons, Abuse of Power, and Control” Virtual Discussion

From Project NIA: This conversation between Dr. Beth Richie, Moni Cosby & Rachel Caïdor is excellent. It kicks off Love & Protect & Moms United Against Violence and Incarceration’s Prison Is Gender Violence, Free All Survivors Week of Action. It addresses the ways that prison IS gender violence, and why we must work toward abolition ifContinue reading ““Prison Is Abuse: Understanding Prisons, Abuse of Power, and Control” Virtual Discussion”

Have you heard about Give OUT Day?

Did y’all know Give OUT Day is the only national online day of giving for the LGBTQ+ community? We know our queer, trans, and gender non-conforming communities of color have consistently been the first ones throwing down for each other before & during the pandemic and uprisings.  We also know that the police use sex work criminalization toContinue reading “Have you heard about Give OUT Day?”

“Sex Workers Have Never Counted on Cops. Let’s Learn From Their Safety Tactics.”

One of our organizers spoke with Mike Ludwig for Truthout, about sex worker mutual aid and safety outside the carceral state:  “In the face of criminalization and whorephobic violence, sex working people have always sought to create our own systems of support and protection outside of the cops, criminal legal processes and societally accepted channels becauseContinue reading ““Sex Workers Have Never Counted on Cops. Let’s Learn From Their Safety Tactics.””

Donna’s Twitter Takeover!

Did y’all know our comrade Donna Gary is holding down Twitter for us through the 28th?!  From Donna: Taking over the Support Ho(s)e twitter for the next 8 DAYS! I go way back with this lovely disruptive org! Learn more about how this poet gal got involved as a co-conspirator with sex workers, particularly incarceratedContinue reading “Donna’s Twitter Takeover!”

Chrystul is FREE!

What amazing news!!! Chrystul Kizer is free, out on bail, and with comrades and family! We’re with you Chrystul, we have your back! From our comrades the Chicago Community Bond Fund: Chrystul Kizer is a Black 19-year-old survivor of sexual violence currently facing criminal prosecution for actions taken in self-defense. For almost two years, Chrystul has beenContinue reading “Chrystul is FREE!”

Recording Now Available: DIY Resistance: Sex Workers + Organizers Talk Artmaking and Mutual Aid for International Whores’ Day

ICYMI one of our organizers and several of their dear comrades talked zine making (including Alisha’s!!!) and sex worker organizing!  This live conversation and Q&A around artmaking as resistance, mutual aid, and “whorestories” of zine-making took place on June 3 in conjunction with International Whores Day NYC 2020 Digital Rally. The recorded conversation can beContinue reading “Recording Now Available: DIY Resistance: Sex Workers + Organizers Talk Artmaking and Mutual Aid for International Whores’ Day”

Aubri Esters, Presente!

“Informed by her own experiences using drugs and living on the streets, and fierce when necessary, she let her eloquent voice ring out in City Hall, on a state commission, and in groups advocating on behalf of those who suffer, often unseen, at society’s neglected margins.” Read the full article in memory of Aubri’s lifeContinue reading “Aubri Esters, Presente!”

Free Chrystul Kizer Updates

From one of our comrades with Free Chrystul Kizer Yesterday Chrystul’s request for a reduced bail was DENIED by the judge. Graveley used yesterday’s hearing as a way to deny Chrysul’s survivorhood as a survivor of sexual exploitation, to deny risks she faced/s to the coronavirus in pre-trial jail & deny Chrystul’s right to self-defense. WEContinue reading “Free Chrystul Kizer Updates”

#8ToAbolition

We are amplifying #8toAbolition “While communities across the country mourn the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Jamel Floyd, and so many more Black victims of police murder, Campaign Zero released its 8 Can’t Wait campaign, offering a set of eight reforms they claim would reduce police killings by 72%. As police and prisonContinue reading “#8ToAbolition”

No time for electoral exceptionalism

Imagine telling fellow sex workers to “vote” or “get serious”—implying that supporting protestors and their diversity of tactics is not?—at a time like this (or really anytime).  The shit we’ve seen and heard. No. Just no. Cut the respectability nonsense.  To #Decriminalize all survival we must #AbolishThePolice. Full stop.  Defund, disarm, dismantle forever.  Wanting more to read onContinue reading “No time for electoral exceptionalism”

Support Ho(s)e IWD 2020 Statement

[Intro]  Hey y’all, I’m sharing on behalf of our collective, both inside and outside members, but I want to give a special s/o to our comrade Alisha Walker who contributed heavily to the writing and shaping of this statement.  Alisha “LeLe” Walker is an incarcerated former sex worker and current inside organizer with the SupportContinue reading “Support Ho(s)e IWD 2020 Statement”

DIY Resistance: Sex Workers + Organizers Talk Art-making and Mutual Aid

Mark your calendars for 💥”DIY RESISTANCE: Sex Workers & Organizers Talk Art-making & Mutual Aid for International Whores’ Day”💥 June 3rd 2020 / 8-9 p.m. EDT Join a live conversation and Q&A around artmaking as resistance, mutual aid, and “whorestories” of zine-making with Red Schulte, curator of the The International Whores’ Day Zine and co-organizer of the International Whores Day NYCContinue reading “DIY Resistance: Sex Workers + Organizers Talk Art-making and Mutual Aid”

“If U Only Knew How They Were Really Doing Us”: Inside/Outside Communication During A Pandemic

ICYMI: Red & Alisha wrote a piece for Tits and Sass, that also features words by our comrade, Lorena*.  “This pandemic is yet another horrifying worst case scenario. It exists on top of Alisha’s incarceration being its own terror and the assault on her life being another. And of course, all of this exists in theContinue reading ““If U Only Knew How They Were Really Doing Us”: Inside/Outside Communication During A Pandemic”

Get ready for IWD 2020!

June 2nd is #InternationalWhoresDay!  A day to celebrate SWer resistance + organizing against state violence!  Follow @iwdnyc (on Twitter + IG) & RSVP for the digital rally: http://tinyurl.com/IWDNYC2020 Support IWD NYC speakers (including US!!!), organizers and zinesters by donating here: https://gofundme.com/f/iwd-nyc-digital-rally #IWDNYC2020

Red’s Birthday Fundraising Efforts

It’s almost one of our organizer’s birthday! Let’s help them celebrate by raising much needed funds for S&P NY and for Alisha’s post-release fund!  From Red:  If you want to celebrate with me, please consider making a donation of any amount to Survived & Punished New York‘s Summer Mutual Aid Commissary Drive and/or to Justice forContinue reading “Red’s Birthday Fundraising Efforts”

Chicago Zine Fest’s Zinester Directory

Justice for Alisha Walker is listed in Chicago Zine Fest’s Zinester Directory! Don’t forget the only way to get our zines right now is by ordering them via Quimby’s Bookstore! #CZF2020 is just around the corner! While you wait for the weekend festivities why not join our NEW #Zinester Directory, a spreadsheet of active zinesters to browse in perpetuity! Submit nowContinue reading “Chicago Zine Fest’s Zinester Directory”

“‘We’ve Always Taken Care Of Each Other’: How Sex Workers Are Coping During COVID-19”

On March 27, Congress passed The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion economic relief package intended to help workers, families, and small businesses with the economic impacts of COVID-19. But federal regulation dating back to the ’70s bars anyone whose work is of a “prurient sexual nature” from receiving reliefContinue reading ““‘We’ve Always Taken Care Of Each Other’: How Sex Workers Are Coping During COVID-19””

Clemency Process Update

The official clemency process is dubious and daunting, but we’re still pursuing it. If you’re an anti-racist lawyer who’s serious about showing up (ie down to advise and help file pro bono) for incarcerated sex working people, get in touch. As we navigate those “official” channels, help support our popular defense campaign by putting pressureContinue reading “Clemency Process Update”

Zine Reading + Talk Back with Alisha Walker

The recording from our zine reading and talk back with our comrades Red and Alisha Walker, hosted by Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center is now LIVE online! We made sure to include lots of resource links in the video’s description too! Zine Reading + Talk Back with Alisha Walker Transcript Matilda:Here we go. Good morning,Continue reading “Zine Reading + Talk Back with Alisha Walker”

“We got masks today.”

Alisha just called with an update! As of Saturday, May 2nd, 2:30pm est: Each incarcerated person inside Decatur has been given one (and only one) “medical grade” mask with their name and ID number written across the front of it in sharpie (so all they can smell are the marker fumes). She also mentioned that theContinue reading ““We got masks today.””

Let Sex Workers Survive

Join inside and outside comrades from the Support Ho(s)e Collective for a zine reading, history of organizing and a conditions update from inside an Illinois prison on Friday, April 24th 2020.  This event will be held over Zoom, please RSVP for a meeting link. Participant Bios :Red (they/them) makes zines that center sex worker organizing,Continue reading “Let Sex Workers Survive”

#FreeThemAll: Defending Criminalized Survivors Webinar

Join the #FreeThemAll: Defending Criminalized Survivors Webinar.  We’ll be talking about our work building a grassroots defense campaign with Alisha and inside/outside sex worker organizing.   Learn more about current survivor defense campaigns and how you can take action to #FreeThemAll! #SurvivedAndPunished Register at bit.ly/DefendSurvivors2020 

The EARN IT Act is a Trojan Horse Designed to Permanently Shatter The Privacy of Internet Users

https://www.slixa.com/blog/law/earnit-act-2020-breaks-encryption-for-sex-workers/ One of our organizers spoke with Kate for this piece, “Many of us…have [now] taken up this work against EARN IT. We see this newly proposed bill as a part of the dangerous legacy of SESTA/FOSTA, the PATRIOT Act and other insidious state surveillance efforts; bent on censorship and punishment.“

#LetThemGo

TAKE ACTION: We’re joining the movement to demand Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, Governor Andrew Cuomo grant #ClemencyNow to all those vulnerable to #COVID19 (EVERYONE IN JAILS/PRISONS). This is a public health crisis & it’s been time to #LetThemGo #ClemencyCoast2Coast #FreeThemAll4PublicHealth Use the toolkit at bit.ly/ClemencyCoast2Coast to get involved!

Today, we’re turning 4 years young as a collective!!!

We’re taking time today, in spite of the fear and anxieties swirling within us to take stock of the last four years. Today, we’re turning 4 years young as a collective!!!  In late March of 2016, we organized our first demonstration in solidarity with Alisha Walker and all criminalized/incarcerated sex workers who had survived violence.Continue reading “Today, we’re turning 4 years young as a collective!!!”

Updates from Alisha!

Tuesday, 3/24 Afternoon Call  LeLe, and many others inside, elected to get flu shots that were being offered by Decatur yesterday.  Last night through this morning Alisha and others she knows on unit, including a close friend experienced allergic reactions as a result of the shots ranging from mild to serious. Alisha’s friend went intoContinue reading “Updates from Alisha!”

Updates from LeLe

3/21 Morning Call  Decatur has implemented “Administrative Quarantine” furthering their lockdown practices. The incarcerated mothers with babies have been released. Many had no where to go, LeLe heard some had been sent to shelters/hotels but has no way of confirming this. She’s worried for them. She’s worried for herself and those left caged. They prisonContinue reading “Updates from LeLe”

Updates from Alisha!

3/18/2020 More updates from Alisha, as of this afternoon!  Red and LeLe had a check-in call, LeLe’s voice was bright and hopeful. Alisha let us know that so far no one inside Decatur is sick/showing signs of symptoms, commissary is still open, and soap is still available. LeLe is super worried about her fellow incarceratedContinue reading “Updates from Alisha!”

Updates from LeLe during this on-going pandemic:

Red spoke with Alisha on Friday (3/13), and LeLe said Decatur is going on lockdown. All in-person visitation has been cancelled, and video visits are tentatively going forward, but that it is unclear if GTL tech staff will be allowed into the prison for technical support and administration of video visitation. LeLe also mentioned thatContinue reading “Updates from LeLe during this on-going pandemic:”

Happy 27th Birthday LeLe

Much love to everyone who tuned into our #HoPowerHour today on Twitter to celebrate Alisha’s birthday with us! Follow us there too, if you don’t already: @supporthosechi Thank you for amplifying LeLe’s resilience and story! Here’s to building more radical care that uplifts all those who love themselves so much, they survive, by any means. #HappyBirthdayLeLe

LeLe’s Birthday Cards

Thanks to everyone who celebrated Alisha (and her birthday) with us this evening (Feb. 8th) at Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center. After the upsetting news we got earlier today about LeLe being targeted for ticketing harassment again, this gathering generated much needed love, rage, comradeship and 🍰! We love you LeLe! We’re with you!No oneContinue reading “LeLe’s Birthday Cards”

Happy 27th Birthday LeLe

Help us wish our friend and organizing comrade Happy Birthday! Join us for Happy Birthday, LeLe! Letter Writing at Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center on Saturday, February 8th from 5:30 – 6:30pm! Not in NYC? Here are some ways to support and show birthday love for Alisha: Please write to Alisha by mail:Ms. Alisha Walker #Y12381Decatur CorrectionalPO BOX 3066Decatur,Continue reading “Happy 27th Birthday LeLe”

SxHx Letter Writing Resource Living Document

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OlRrrm2fkk7sjKyRiTwxrdBKQY58eIooc62_OtWsKRs/edit This is our working document of best practices for writing to comrades inside (especially former sex working/trading comrades who are criminalized survivors).  See also the amazing resource that Survived & Punished has debuted around organizing your own letter writing events: https://survivedandpunished.org/toolkit-for-organizing-letterwriting-events/

From yesterday’s (01/02/2020) trip to see Alisha.

It may be a new year, but we’re our same old “fuck prison” selves. LeLe sends love and appreciation to everyone who sent holiday solidarity! Below are some reflections from Red about their visit: Finally getting together my notes and reflections (that I can share on here) from our visit. Reeling from the news ofContinue reading “From yesterday’s (01/02/2020) trip to see Alisha.”

“Resolution Condemning SESTA-FOSTA”

BE IT RESOLVED, NLG condemns SESTA-FOSTA and all attempts to further criminalize people’s involvement in the sex trade. NLG is in solidarity with the plaintiffs in Woodhull Freedom Foundation et al. v. United States and all others harmed by SESTA-FOSTA. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in line with the 2016 NLG Resolution Supporting the Abolition of Prisons, theContinue reading ““Resolution Condemning SESTA-FOSTA””

Kink Out: Leather Lit Day

Where our NYC comrades will be next!Kink Out: Leather Lit Day at MoMA PS1! From Kink Out: As an extension of Kink Out’s residency at MoMA PS1, LEATHER LIT DAY on January 11th, brings together kink and sex working people and allies for a day of storytelling, zine making, and community building. PROGRAM2–5pm zine making, facilitated by NikoContinue reading “Kink Out: Leather Lit Day”

We Supported Sex Worker Brilliance in 2019

So thankful for the support and resourcing that Third Wave Fund unapologetically gives to sex worker organizing! Eternally grateful for the care and labor of everyone involved in the Sex Worker Giving Circle. Support them here, so they can continue to fund our movements: https://thirdwavefund.giv.sh/96cd 🌹 Grantees Announcement! We’ve committed over $800,000 to sex worker-led groups in justContinue reading “We Supported Sex Worker Brilliance in 2019”

December 17th Protest Vigil and Community Gathering

Just got home from our December 17th protest vigil and community gathering. I kept thinking about what LeLe said on the phone this morning, “Tell people I’ve only got one more D17 inside, then I’ll be out there with y’all fighting. Remind people about all the hos in county and all us in here!”  I’mContinue reading “December 17th Protest Vigil and Community Gathering”

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Statement

People asked us for the piece that Red shared this evening for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, below is their introductory statement and Alisha’s poem. Tonight I’m reading a poem written by my friend and comrade Alisha Walker. Alisha is a self-described queer, mixed, Black woman and unapologetic whore. She is aContinue reading “International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Statement”

TODAY! Chicago! December 17th!

Please join us in solidarity for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. There will be a protest vigil and community gathering. We’ll gather in Millennium Park beginning at 4:30pm at the Millennium Monument corner of Randolph & Michigan (looks like a colonnade), for a vigil action to hold space for those we’ve lostContinue reading “TODAY! Chicago! December 17th!”

Reflecting on December 17th

It is at once a preposterous and necessary act, to demand an end to violence against sex workers.  I cannot help but be reminded, at this moment in the midst of the extended decrepitude of American moral authority and prerogative, of another, equally preposterous and necessary ask, on behalf of Black lives, and wonder howContinue reading “Reflecting on December 17th”

Julie Reading Our Collective’s Statement

Our collective’s statement read by our dear comrade Julie at last night’s vigil to remember Yang Song —so much love to Red Canary Song for holding space. Yang Song Statement Transcript Julie:Hi, everyone. The Support Ho(s)e Collective sends its love and solidarity to Red Canary Song and all of you today who want an endContinue reading “Julie Reading Our Collective’s Statement”

Our Statement at Song Yang’s Vigil

Our collective’s statement, that our comrade Julie read, for this evening’s vigil action for Yang Song: The Support Ho(s)e Collective sends its love and solidarity to Red Canary Song and all of you today who want an end to the harassment and criminalization of our immigrant, migrant, and sex working communities. Like our comrades inContinue reading “Our Statement at Song Yang’s Vigil”

Mourning the Death of Yang Song

Today, in Flushing Queens comrades will gather to mourn the death of Yang Song and share collective outrage at the continued criminalization of massage and sex working migrant people. We send love, support and righteous anger as we rise up alongside our comrades today. Alisha wanted to share these words with folx as they headContinue reading “Mourning the Death of Yang Song”

Song Yang’s Vigil

From our comrades Red Canary Song* Vigil for Yang Song * Time: Saturday 11/30 3-6PMLocation: 40th Road (near the LIRR tracks), FlushingRain Location: Chinese Democracy Club/Flushing Quaker Meeting House We are gathering for a vigil to honor the life of Yang Song, who passed away after a police raid at the massage parlor where sheContinue reading “Song Yang’s Vigil”

Red Canary Song: Fly in Power

Please save the date Saturday, November 30th and show up to hold space with Red Canary Song as community uplifts the memory of #YangSong and continues the fight against criminalization of massage and sex working migrant people. Vigil action from 2-5PM on 40th Road near the LIRR tracks in Flushing, Queens. Watch this video created collaboratively by KinkContinue reading “Red Canary Song: Fly in Power”

BOW DOWN: QUEER KINK SEX WORKER PANEL

Next Week! Many thanks to Kink Out & the Leslie Lohman Museum for organizing and hosting!   One of our comrades will be speaking on this panel discussing art, politics and queer liberation organizing!  Tuesday, November 19, 20196:30-8:30 PM Bow Down is a conversation between queer kink sex workers who discuss their particular field ofContinue reading “BOW DOWN: QUEER KINK SEX WORKER PANEL”

It’s been just under a week since sex workers and accomplices converged on Harvard!

Hacking//Hustling @ Harvard was a truly life-giving and labor-affirming convening. Here are just a few candids from the convening! In one, you can see Red holding a mic to the phone, sharing the floor with LeLe. So much love and appreciation to everyone who helped Hacking//Hustling realize this convening. So much love to those whoContinue reading “It’s been just under a week since sex workers and accomplices converged on Harvard!”

Letter Writing with Survived & Punished New York and Red Light Reader

So much love and appreciation to everyone who came out and joined us for our letter writing event last night, co-hosted by our dear comrades Survived & Punished New York and Red Light Reader. The evening was filled with food, and stories and meeting new comrades and catching up with old friends. Together we wrote 77 letters toContinue reading “Letter Writing with Survived & Punished New York and Red Light Reader”

Today’s Video Visit

Just had a video visit with Alisha this morning! Of course the quality of the video was terrible and the sound kept cutting in and out, again. This has become expected, but no less frustrating.  We caught up on organizing tasks for our collective, what she’s reading now (digging into some romance novels after finishingContinue reading “Today’s Video Visit”

No New Jails NYC Statement

The Support Ho(s)e Collective sends its love and solidarity to our comrades in the No New Jails NYC coalition and to all of you today who want an end to the criminalization and caging of our sex working and hustling communities. Our collective is comprised of current and former sex workers and militant co-conspirators. WeContinue reading “No New Jails NYC Statement”

SxHx Letter Writing Resource: LIST OF BEST PRACTICES, HOW TO’S, RESOURCES AND LEARNED LESSONS FOR CORRESPONDING WITH COMRADES INSIDE

bit.ly/SxHxLetterWriting  Things to keep in mind before you begin writing: These letters are important gestures, but they can do work beyond that. Receiving mail can be a form of harm reduction, it signals to the prison guards that your comrade has people on the outside who are concerned with their well-being. It can also signalContinue reading “SxHx Letter Writing Resource: LIST OF BEST PRACTICES, HOW TO’S, RESOURCES AND LEARNED LESSONS FOR CORRESPONDING WITH COMRADES INSIDE”

Happy Sex Worker Pride from some of our organizers!

Here’s to building toward more radical Ho love now! More on the 1st annual International Sex Worker Pride:  NSWP is launching a fourth International sex worker rights day, Sex Worker Pride, taking place on 14th September each year. This day will celebrate sex workers’ self-determination and enhanced visibility and show the achievements of sex worker-led organisations.Continue reading “Happy Sex Worker Pride from some of our organizers!”

No New Jails Rally

We rallied alongside our comrades in No New Jails NYC this morning! We believe in police and prison abolition, full stop. One of our organizers, was proud to have been in community with Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center and Survived & Punished New York in crafting their respective statements of solidarity with the No New Jails NYC coalition! There will beContinue reading “No New Jails Rally”

No New Jails City Council Public Hearing

Join our comrades No New Jails NYC for their No New Jails City Council Public Hearing TOMORROW! We’ll be joining the gathering directly before the hearing! We will be meeting in City Hall Park from 8:00-9:30am to lift our voices alonside those going in to share statements, rage and community love. We will give each other strength!

Under The Red Umbrella Documentary

This past week the amazing crew from Under The Red Umbrella Documentary visited us and spoke with a couple of our organizers (we missed you Donna Gary + Aaron, and of course, Decatur is still preventing LeLe from being a part of any sort of video documentation)! We talked at length about how we formed as a collective, howContinue reading “Under The Red Umbrella Documentary”

One of our organizers went out to see Alisha on August 10th:

Yesterday was a solo trip to see Alisha. Those drives are filled with corn fields and rage. It’s tradition though at this point; a full range of photos documenting visits over the years, so who am I to not take one even though I felt and looked worse for wear. We had a great longContinue reading “One of our organizers went out to see Alisha on August 10th:”

Decrim vs. End Demand

ALL OUT NYC!!! Join our comrades DecrimNY for a teach-in and canvass tomorrow!  https://www.facebook.com/events/880317355672359/ Decrim NY is working to end criminalization of sex work because it will make sex workers and trafficking survivors safer from violence by clients and the police. It also decriminalizes mutual aid strategies like sharing a home with a sex worker!Continue reading “Decrim vs. End Demand”

Super Mom Myths

Join Moms United and Northside Transformative Law Center for a dinner, panel and facilitated discussion, in a fully accessible location, about the ways in which moms, overwhelmingly poor moms and disproportionately moms of color are criminalized out of abusive/coercive circumstances. This includes legal theories of “failure to protect”, as well as accountability laws in whichContinue reading “Super Mom Myths”

LeLe sent us updated photos!

Look at our beautiful comrade! Have you been looking for ways to support Alisha? Please donate toward commissary and visitation needs here: https://www.gofundme.com/support-alisha-walker You can also contribute via Venmo now: @SxHxCollective Please sign and share this petition created by a supporter:www.care2.com/FreeAlisha Please write to Alisha by mail:Ms. Alisha Walker #Y12381Decatur CorrectionalPO BOX 3066Decatur, IL 62524 Please writeContinue reading “LeLe sent us updated photos!”

Cine Respaldo film series

From our comrades Los Colibríes Community Garden:  Last night we were fortunate to be able to host the third film in the Cine Respaldo film series, Live Nude Girls Unite! So grateful for all the folks who came out; for Red from Support Ho(s)e / Justice for Alisha Walker, who provided dope insight into the film &Continue reading “Cine Respaldo film series”