Love and Solidarity on IDEVASW Day

Almost 100 years ago, some seriously radical women, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, inspired women across the country to join the National Woman’s Party.  The women who joined the movement for equal voting rights were fiercely passionate and what they did was VERY revolutionary for their time.  They suffered stigmatism, criminalization (jailed for picketing the White House on trumped up charges), they endured abuse at the hands of government officials (force feeding in jail while on a hunger strike).   They were ostracized not just by polite society, but many lost their children, husbands and home and financial security.  For the cause.  And in August, 1920, they WON.

The sex worker rights movement is just as radical in our day and age. We each have our stories of sacrifices and stigma, of our own revolutionary acts, both big and small. While December 17th is a solemn day of remembrance, it holds in its heart the great dream of justice we all envision will be ours some day, and an end to violence and death suffered solely for who we are and what we do.  “We shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts…” read the hand-stitched banners our suffragist sisters held on the picket lines.  Tomorrow, red umbrellas, hot chocolate, banners, songs, poems and candles will embody our ever growing, quiet yet powerful revolution.

With much love to all our sisters across the nation tomorrow, and with best wishes to those marching in Washington, DC (we are with you!!), heartfelt blessings to one and all.

In solidarity,

SWOP-Tucson