COYOTE RI JUNE 2024 NEWSLETTER
HAPPY JUNE COYOTE SUPPORTERS
INTERNATIONAL SEX WORKERS’ DAY
THE HISTORY: June 2nd is International Sex Workers' Day, which commemorates the 1975 occupation of Lyon, France's Saint-Nizier Church by over 100 sex workers and their allies. The occupation was a protest against the increasing number of arrests of street sex workers, police harassment, and the lack of interest in solving crimes against sex workers. The sex workers challenged the police to arrest anyone they could identify as a sex worker in the church, making the point that sex workers are ordinary people. The occupation made international news headlines and sparked a national movement that changed the global conversation around sex worker's rights. The day is now celebrated around the world, including in Europe.
In 2023 COYOTE celebrated the life of Carol Leigh, also known as “The Scarlot Harlot” who co-founded the US Prostitutes’ movement in the 1970’s and coined the term “sex work in 1978. Rest in Power Carol (January 11th, 1951- November 16th, 2022)
COYOTE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you, Heidi Toppel for inviting COYOTE RI to the East Greenwich Rotary Club to discuss our service programs. This is a great local organization.
Hat Tip to all our staff members, volunteers, and donors.
SPECIAL REPORT: Rhode Island & DCYF is Failing our Youth Link
SEX WORK & FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS
Alaska's Community United For Safety And Protection 2024 Legislative Check-In: The Bad Bill HB66 Link
SA votes down Nordic model sex work reform by single vote Link
How Pope Francis opened the Vatican to transgender sex workers Link
Alabama's New Sex Trafficking Law Could Mean Life in Prison for Trafficking Victims Link
Don't Co-Parent With Congress: Instead of lobbying for age verification and youth social media bans, parents can simply restrict their kids' smartphone use. Link
TikTok Asks Court To Declare Ban Unconstitutional Link
Stormy spoke. Trump fumed. Jurors were captivated — but also cringed. Link
Hold Fast: The Unadulterated Story of the World’s Most Scandalous Website Link
9th Circuit Upholds Verdict Against Oregon College for Discriminating Against Former Adult Performer Link
Stormy Daniels Claims She Told Donald Trump Condom Use Was Important to Her Before Their Sexual Encounter Link
Former Columbus vice cop Andrew Mitchell sentenced to prison for kidnapping women Link
The monumental free speech case the media ignored Link
OpenAI Is Open To AI-Generated Erotica…but Not 'Porn' Link
CENSORSHIP: Criticizing Israel? Nonprofit Media Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status Without Due Process Link
State health plans must cover gender-affirming surgery, US appeals court rules Link
Segpay Launches Virtual 'Segcard' Creator Payout Solution Link
The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has asked the US District Court of Montana to block the state's new age verification law. Link
Porn, Sex-Toy Industry Sue to Block Montana Age-Verification Law
The Worst Section 230 Bill Yet: New bipartisan legislation would sunset Section 230 after next year. Link
Belgium Protects Sex Workers' Right to Refuse Link
Spain's Government Fails in Attempt to Recriminalize, 'Abolish' Sex Work Link
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PARENTS- Instead of lobbying for age verification and youth social media bans, parents can simply, restrict their kids' smartphone use. Real choices are available to them on the market, and they are not all the same. Bark phones, for example, can have almost every moderating feature turned off when the time comes, while Troomi and Pinwheel phones make their device guardrails permanent. Don't despair. There are alternatives out there that are better than co-parenting with Congress. Link
THE WORLD IS WATCHING- FREE PALESTINE!
In Hind’s Hall, Macklemore characterizes Israel as “a state that’s gotta rely on an apartheid system to uphold an occupying violent history that has been repeating for the last 75 [years]”, and says he has experienced support from Jewish people in solidarity with the pro-Palestine protests. “We see the lies in them, claiming it’s antisemitic to be anti-Zionist. I’ve seen Jewish brothers and sisters out there and riding in solidarity and screaming ‘Free Palestine’ with them”. Macklemore - "Hind's Hall" (Video | 2024) LINK
“A Watershed Event”: ICC Charges Against Netanyahu First Time Court Has Gone After Western Leader Link
Joe Biden’s Terrible Israel Policy Is Really About Getting in Bed With Saudi Arabia Link
COYOTE’S LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
You can follow the bills that COYOTE RI supports and opposes in 2024, here
Find your local legislator here
Immunity bill for sex workers, survivors & spa workers to report violent crimes. We support H7307 and Oppose H7165 & S2441, please sign the petition here and take the next steps here
Alaska's Community United For Safety And Protection 2024 Legislative Check-In: The Bad Bill HB66 Link
We oppose the PROTECT Act Could Require Removal of All Existing Porn Online Link
Six California State Assembly members are proposing to reinstate the 'loitering with intent to commit prostitution' (also known as 'walking while trans') law that was repealed by SB 357 only a year ago. AB 2034 seeks to make walking down the street a criminal offense again. There are 3 bills (AB 2034, AB 2646, SB1219) trying to reinstate 653.22 and we need your help to tell CA Assembly and Senate Members why these bills would be a retrograde step. Please log in to California's state legislation letter portal and tell them No On AB 2034, AB 2646, SB1219
CAMPAIGNS
HOLD THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS ACCOUNTABLE! SIGN AND MAKE COMMENTS NOW AT change.org/BOPAccountability
Asian Spa Workers Should Be Able to Report Violence Without Arrest - Please sign the Petition- Next steps Link Please sign the petition in support of the RI H7307 & in Opposition of H7165 & S2441 Link and check out our Immunity Tool Kit @ http://bit.ly/3BH5QPC
Petition: Justice for Nex Benedict: Transgender Children Deserve to Live Safe, Full Lives Link
Demand an Independent Investigation Into the Death of Nex Benedict Link
TELL CONGRESS to say NO TO BAD INTERNET BILLS Please sign the petition Link
Another domestic sex trafficking victim who is a minor was charged, while her abusers were not arrested. Please sign the petition link
Please sign the ACLU’s Petition “ MASTERCARD: SEX WORK IS WORK. END YOUR UNJUST POLICY”
Tell the Senate: the Solution to Kids’ Privacy Isn’t More Surveillance. Take action here
Demand politicians vote against this harmful Bill that seeks to criminalize the purchase of sexual services in South Australia Link
Stop Bill S-224: Stop harmful amendments to the human trafficking offense- Please Sign the Petition Link
Tell Congress to stop using TikTok to drive fear and war toward China! Sign the petition Link
Sign the Petition! Federal Prison Sentencing Reform link
Send a Letter: Tell your Congressperson to sign on to the demand for clemency now! #FreeHer
Please sign this petition “Clemency Works RI
Please join us in ensuring eligible voters impacted by incarceration access their right to vote! Petition
Please sign the petition “No Penobscot County Jail Expansion” Link
URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Please sign this petition: Save 3,000 from Unjust Incarceration Link
Please, sign this petition. Tell Congress to fix Supplemental Security Income to fight poverty. Link
RESEARCH
COYOTE is collecting stories to support a bill for immunity for sex workers and sex trafficking survivors reporting violent crimes to police. Surveys are a way that we can bring the voices of criminalized people who would rather remain anonymous to lawmakers. Please participate in this short, 8-question survey. Link
Summary of 2022/2023 Anchorage Police Department Prostitution Records Request Link
COYOTES Immunity Tool Kit Link
“Prostitution and Prostitution Related Charges in Rhode Island 2000 - Present” link
COYOTE’s “Four Years of FOSTA Survey Report” link
“Policing Modern Day Slavery; Carceral Care in Rhode Island” [link].
ESPLERPS 2023 Report "Californians for Privacy: How the War on Sex Work Is Stripping Your Privacy Rights." Link
The Double-Edged Sword of Health and Safety: COVID-19 and the Policing and Exclusion of Migrant Asian Massage Workers in North America Link
Editorial: Gains and Challenges in the Global Movement for Sex Workers’ Rights Link
Shadow Report Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Optional Protocols July 12th Meeting with the United States State Department. Link
COYOTE PROGRAM SERVICES
The COYOTE CLOSET provides clothing, hygiene items, and harm reduction supplies for over 150 street-based workers, and poor/houseless people every month. Please consider purchasing an item from our Amazon wishlist. Please consider cleaning out your closets and donating your old clothes. (Contact Bella at 401-525-8757 to schedule drop off/ pick up for clothing donations) Thank you.
COYOTEs “Health and Safety Education Specialist, Lindsey Berry facilitates our re-entry empowerment program for the women at the RI ACI every week. COYOTE RI is now providing case management to assist the women in getting copies of their birth certificates and social security cards, which are required to obtain their state ID. Without a state ID, they can not get a job or apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and other public services. We are also providing the women released from the RI ACI with a 100 Savers Gift Card for clothing and a 100 Stop & Shop gift card for food and household items. We are also assisting many of them in accessing sober houses & safe housing. #creatingcommunity
“Healing Hustlers” is an online weekly support group for sex workers and survivors.
Sister 2 Sister, is a weekly online support group for Formerly Incarcerated Women to find resources & community by COYOTE RI & Once Incarcerated Anonymous. Thank you LaResse Harvey for facilitating this support group.
COYOTE RI SEX WORKER STORYTELLING PODCAST
Episode 39: “Meet Brittany Andrews, Playboy Model, Sex Worker, Award-Winning Filmmaker and Musician.” Link
Sex workers, former sex workers, and trafficking Survivors who would like to be interviewed please email, <communications@coyoteri.org>
UPCOMING EVENTS
COYOTE’s research director Tara Burns is also a member of the “Community United for Safety & Protection” in Alaska. They are hosting a fabulous summer series. Event times are in the Alaska time zone. Folks can join with this link.
Black Lives Matter RI PAC 2nd Annual Juneteenth Awards Ceremony- June 15th, 2024, from 11 am to 1 pm at the Providence Public Library, located at 150 Empire Street, (Donald J Farish Auditorium 3rd floor) Providence RI 02903. Get Tickets
COYOTE’s RESOURCE LIST
2023 RI Housing Factbook Link
RI Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Link
What is a “Driving Privilege Card” in Rhode Island and is it Safe? Link
RI ACLU advocacy101 link
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: FAIR CHANCE LICENSING Link
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: BAN THE BOX Link
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: STUDENTS AND TECHNOLOGY via RI ACLU link
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: STUDENTS AND TRUANCY COURT via RI ACLU - link
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ARREST? Link
Also, see- ACLU Death By Incarceration.
Free Tablets & Phones for Those on Snap or Medicaid Link
Guide to Abortion Privacy- Digital Defense Fund link
Digital Security and Privacy Tips for Those Involved in Abortion Access link
Need an abortion? Depending on where you live, they can offer you different service options. Link
FREE Anti Racism Workshops link
Let's Talk About Self-Harm Link
Credit score Facts vs. myths: 5 Things to Know Link
Anonymous (OIA) in CT OIA Housing Ambassador Program pdf
The Unspoken Complexity of “Self-Care” link
SEX WORKER & LGBT RESOURCES
Mutual Aid for California sex workers- Link
Sex Worker Implementation Tools - SWIT Guideline Link
Empower Today online library Link
Making Incarcerated Sex Workers our Priority: Calls for penpals! Help us write letters to incarcerated sex workers! Penpalling is an easy and effective way to show support and solidarity for sex workers. We are currently providing case management to over 100 incarcerated sex workers. For more information email info@coyoteri.org or apply for a penpal with SWOP Behind Bars Link
Ramona created a video with tips for being a penpal.
Also, see SWOP Behind Bars' new video on “How to get Identification Documents after being Incarcerated”
SWOP Behind Bars Quick Start Guide to Writing Incarcerated People Link
You've Got (Jail) Mail! Link
Midwest Rainbow News, Incarcerated LGBTQ People Link
Also check out our sister organization: Once Incarcerated
Guide to Hiring Sex Workers and Survivors Link
Media Training for Advocacy by Free Speech Coalition Link
Stop The Raids, EFF Cyber Security Training Link
Why Unionize Link
Leadership and Media Training Materials Link
More Resources Link
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
FDA Drug Shortages Link
Scientists worry government may be repeating COVID mistakes with new virus Link
H5N1 bird flu in U.S. cattle: A wake-up call to action Link
Want to get tested for sexually transmitted infections Online? Link
Health Insurers Have Been Breaking State Laws for Years. States have passed hundreds of laws to protect people from wrongful insurance denials. Yet from emergency services to fertility preservation, insurers still say no. Link
HealthHIV HIV PrEP Navigation Certification (HIVPNC) Program Link
COVID UPDATES Link
CDC Respiratory Virus Updates Link
MONKEYPOX UPDATES Link
POLIO UPDATES Link
REPRODUCTIVE/ABORTION RIGHTS UPDATES Link
PUBLIC HEALTH NEWS (updated monthly) Link
IN THE LOCAL NEWS
R.I. man affiliated with neo-Nazi group charged with possessing child pornography Link
Stealth Subsidy- How Providence Has Systematically Under-Assessed the Value of Luxury Residential Apartments and Undeveloped Development Parcels Link
Providence Hotel Workers hold May Day rally for fair contracts Link
Audubon Society of RI corrects the record on Mayor Grebien's environmental impact review of Morley Field Link
RISD Students for Justice in Palestine layout their demands Link
Secretary of State Gregg Amore speaks at the RI Atheists' Day of Reason event Link
On protesting campuses, the shine of commencement dulls Link
Biden says ‘order must prevail’ during campus protests over Gaza Link
More than 90 protesters arrested at Dartmouth College pro-Palestinian encampment Link
Westerly plans to rewrite Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Transitioning Student Policy crashing into reality: The reality is that "a policy that forcibly outs children without their consent creates an unsafe school for those students." Link
What happened to Providence’s Snowtown? Growth made Rhode Island’s capital city vibrant, but working-class, multicultural neighborhoods were sacrificed in the process Link
The Rhode Island Senate passed “An Act Relating to Probate Practice and Procedure—Practice in Probate Courts” (S. 2667) - a bill championed by advocates for LGBTQ+ people and survivors of domestic violence - by a vote of 36 to 1.
SNAP Employment & Training Brings Millions to State Link
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley is evicting up to 85 people experiencing homelessness from three encampments Link
Providence Mayor Smiley takes questions on unhoused encampment evictions Link
Providence Mayor Smiley takes questions on unhoused encampment evictions Link
Advocates for the unhoused press Mayor Smiley to halt encampment evictions Link
Foster School Committee puts changes to the transgender policy on hold, until...? Subcommittee Chair Dupuis hints that a Trump Presidency might make changing the policy more likely… Link
'It kind of oversteps': In an unusual move, Shekarchi's own team stalls his housing bill Link
Rhode Island Senate Passes Bill to Simplify Name Change Process Link
A Massachusetts disability rights warrior’s posthumous last battle against estate recovery Link
The Building Code Standards Committee approves Echo Village code variances: A fifteen-minute meeting lasted an hour as the commission wrestled with irrelevancies. Link
Democracy and civil rights take a beating at 1st RIPTA Transit Talks Public Engagement Event: A rigged election, stifled protest, and an attempt to block the press were among the lowlights, never mind ignoring that the public wants the bus hub to stay in Kennedy Plaza. Link
Rhode Island to remove residents from St. Mary’s Home for Children ‘as soon as possible’ Link
Why is McKee rushing to have the state buy a Citizens Bank building? Here's what we found. Link
A bill to simplify the name change process is headed to R.I. Governor McKee’s desk Link
Hundreds of kids wait months to be evaluated for IEPs Link
Has compromise been reached on disability pensions for police, and firefighters with PTSD? Link
New data underscore health challenges faced by transgender youth in Rhode Island Link
Sharp divides and few answers at Tuesday morning's Healthcare Summit Link
Obfuscation, not answers, as Cranston City Council asks city officials about the 1890 Broad Street trench and safety issues Link
Education and civil rights groups oppose the bill to exacerbate the school-to-prison pipeline Link
State House Rally for Tenant Rights pushes for legal counsel and just cause evictions Link
CRMC unanimously approves gas pipeline expansion in Portsmouth and Little Compton Link
Jewish Voice for Peace RI protests at Congressional delegations’ homes in honor of Nakba Day Link
As the state continues to push the bus hub out of Kennedy Plaza, opposition grows Link
IN THE NATIONAL NEWS
Trump found guilty of all charges in the hush money case Link
Large numbers of New York City police officers begin entering the Columbia University campus Link
Facing a class-action lawsuit, Oregon DHS subpoenas senator’s emails before she testifies Link
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint hit with nearly $200 million in FCC fines over sale of location data Link
China’s Beijing Internet Court Recognizes Personality Rights in Generative AI Case Link
Google faces 2.1 billion euro lawsuit by European news publishers over alleged ad tech abuses Link
WhatsApp threatens to stop India operations if forced to break end-to-end encryption: Link
Australia’s big encryption-busting laws have done little more than give authorities the power to ask nicely Link
Supreme Court Won't Stop Texas Porn Law From Taking Effect: So Texans will have to learn to use VPNs- Link
Ohio Pastor Criminally Charged for Letting People Sleep In Church. Again. Link
Israel’s prime minister does not know where to go Link
Colombia to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza war Link
Journalism Is Not a Crime, Even When It Offends the Government Link
Expanding clergy sexual abuse probe targets New Orleans Catholic church leaders Link Link
15 Portland police cars burned overnight at training facility Link
Police deploy tear gas, arrest 10 on USF campus amid pro-Palestinian protest Link
Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar Indicted Over Bribery Scheme Link
How Counterprotesters at U.C.L.A. Provoked Violence, Unchecked for Hours Link
NYPD to suppress free press as it brutalized our peers Link
Israel shuts down Al Jazeera’s operations, raids Jerusalem office Link
People can’t be detained just for trying to avoid police, California Supreme Court says Link
“To Be Free Is to Free Others”: Formerly Incarcerated Women Urge Decarceration Link
The Supreme Court’s Republican bias hangs over the Trump immunity case Link
'Why is it so hard to make it in America?' Here's the true cost of the American Dream Link
What I Saw at the University of Virginia's Protest Crackdown Link
Statement from President Joe Biden on Record Decrease in Violent Crime in 2024, yet he wants to give LE 37 billion Link
Dropbox Data Breach 2024: Lawsuit Says File-Sharing Company Failed to Protect Dropbox Sign Users’ Info from Hackers Link
Even If You Support Police, Don't Ban People From Recording Them Link
Russia to Hold Drills on Tactical Nuclear Weapons in New Tensions With West Link
About 130 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at UMass Amherst after establishing an encampment on campus Link
Republican Introduces Absurd Bill to Send Arrested Student Protesters to Gaza Link
Middle East Crisis: Biden Warns U.S. Deliveries of Some Weapons Will Halt if Israel Invades Rafah Link
Over 20 GOP-led states aka #hatestates sue Biden administration over Title IX rules for LGBTQ students Link
FBI Confirms It’s Restarting Online Censorship Efforts Ahead Of 2024 Election Link
Georgia claims police not using Signal to message about ‘Cop City’, despite evidence to contrary Link
Nearly Half of All Masters Degrees Aren't Worth Getting Link
GOP escalates fight with Secret Service over convention protesters Link
Colombia's Petro Urges ICC Arrest Warrant For Netanyahu Link
Nearly 700 Jewish professors call on Biden not to sign controversial antisemitism legislation Link
A SWAT Team Blew Up This Innocent Couple's Home and Left Them With the Bill. Was That Constitutional? Link
After nearly three weeks on campus, MIT’s pro-Palestinian student encampment ends with arrests Link
A Hidden Sexual-Assault Scandal at the New York Philharmonic Two musicians were fired for sexual misconduct. Why are they back with the orchestra? Link
Jerry Seinfeld’s wife helped organize the counter-protest that turned violent at UC. Link
Criticizing Israel? Nonprofit Media Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status Without Due Process Link
The debate over transgender sports ban brings Alaska House to a standstill. The proposal is a priority of most Republicans in the state House, while a multipartisan coalition has launched a filibuster Link
Suspended MIT and Harvard protesters barred from graduation, evicted from campus housing Link
Settlement fund payouts in NH for YDC abuse reach $66 million Link
It was once unthinkable. Now some universities tiptoe toward divestment from Israel. Link
Biden Asserts Executive Privilege in Fight Over Recording of Special Counsel Interview Link
THIS U.S. ATTORNEY RESIGNED AMID AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION. YET HE WOUND UP OVERSEEING JUDGES’ ETHICS. Link
The war on drugs meets abortion Louisiana Moves To Make Abortion Pills a Controlled Substance Link
Authorities arrest 10 police officers for jail cell murder of trans woman Link
We’re All Burning Ourselves Out to Keep Money Flowing Up to the Rich Link
The US Military Refuses to Own Up to Killing Civilians Link
Nine Takeaways From Our Investigation Into 3M’s Forever Chemicals Link
Israel Raids the Associated Press and Seizes Equipment Over War Coverage Link
A Florida Judge Says $165,000 in Fines for 3 Minor Code Violations Is Not 'Excessive' Link
How US Labor Law Constrains Unions’ Political Activity Link
For the Women Who Accused the Trump Campaign of Harassment, It’s Been More Harassment Link
U.N. Suspends Food Aid in Rafah; U.S. Admits No Aid from New Pier Has Reached Gazans Link
Will the Supreme Court Make Homelessness a Crime? Link
Oil Companies Contaminated a Family Farm. The Courts and Regulators Let the Drillers Walk Away. Link
Ireland’s Tax Haven Economy Isn’t Delivering for Its People Link
How has Gun Violence Changed Your Neighborhood- Tool kit Link
The lawsuit seeks to block Washington parental rights law that critics call a 'forced outing' measure Link
Here is How You Can Support COYOTE RI! If you’d like to schedule a meeting with COYOTE RI, email <info@coyoteri.org> You can also use the above email if you want to volunteer to get involved with COYOTE RI. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to COYOTE RI with our AB Charities link, or, also consider purchasing an item off our Amazon wish list for outreach supplies. Thank you in advance for your support!
FOLLOW COYOTE RI @