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Violence against sex workers doesn't exactly get the attention from law enforcement that it deserves. And because of stigma, zoning laws and lack of legal protection, both women and men involved in the business of sex face unnecessary risks in their daily lives.
Because of all this, the local chapter of sex work advocacy group Sex Workers Outreach Project is holding an event on Saturday, December 17 to commemorate sex workers that have been victims of violence and to draw attention to the fact that those in the adult industry are victimized at alarmingly high rates. The event will be held at City Hall (possibly to be joined by Occupiers) and will last from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On their Facebook page, SWOP LA recounts the story of serial killer Gary Ridgway. Ridgway was found guilty of murdering 48 women, many of whom were prostitutes:
In Ridgway's own words, "I also picked prostitutes as victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed. I knew they would not be reported missing right away and might never be reported missing. I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught."