IHIT Public Advisory - Warning for Sex Workers- 2 women dead...

[Ms.Lolita Monroe]

Well, I hate to say it, but the boards have no one to blame but themselves. The working names of these ladies were private for a short time, before they were put up here and on VCA among other places. In that time, the ads should have been removed. They stayed up on ERSLIST and other places far too long. They should have been taken down the minute these ladies identities were known. Media are scum bags, you can't blame the scorpion for stinging the frog. Ask Nik or the other ad sites why the ads were left up as long as they were, after the ladies were identified. That's where the fault lies.

I absolutely understand where you are coming from. The media would have found out about their working names one way or another imho. We can get the few main advertising boards to take down their ads however all the bunk websites would still be out there hosting their ads. However, what appalled me was the fact that the media CHOSE to use those escort photos and CHOSE to show it to the general public instead of portraying them as women/mother/sister. I would like to think our identity is who we are and what our relationships are- not necessarily what we do as a profession. If they had to show their photos on the news I think a more decent smiling face picture could have been used like it is for a regular deceased person.
I agree with the fact that media is scum and we cannot really blame them but everything they say/do/misinform the public will have a huge impact on how the general public feel towards these women and escorts in general. I am glad that their neighbors remember them lovingly and one of them even mentioned whatever they did to pay their rent and bills did not make them bad people and in fact they were very friendly and warm.
I hate to say it but when most of us found out we all wanted to know their working names for different reasons and maybe somehow the fault lies in us too and not just the boards.

 

[susi]

We can all do something to combat the stereotypes. We all have opportunities in our various 'circles of influence' to educate the people around us, whether it's online or in real life. Look at the excellent reputations that both these ladies had in their neighbourhoods!

Every time someone speaks up to report a crime and represents themselves as well as I'm sure Shelby did, it speaks volumes to the people they deal with too.

i agree with that. the only way to change the hearts and minds is one at a time. unfortunately, these people don't care. they are set in their mission. i have tried to be reasonable with them 100's of times. they come and attack me when i speak publically. they are viscious and refuse to comprimise. they will stoop to any level to achieve thei goal of abolition.

if you don't believe me, go and volunteer at rape relief. try to talk to them. i am telling you it is not worth the heart ache. they are completely fanatical zealots. they will use the names of these women to further their own cause with no respect for what they believed the solution might be.

i never drop the names of the dead. its classless. i don't presume to know how they felt accept in the cases of women who were politically involved before they died.

i agree we need to show the world we are valuable members of society. but these people will not listen nor will they change or comprimise. they are our opposition in all the work we do. they are not worth one minute of our time.

 

[Ratbert_2008]

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Province+must+more+protect+vulnerable+workers/8850018/story.html:

Province must do more to protect vulnerable sex workers

Opinion: Focus on ‘high-risk lifestyle’ shifts blame from violent perpetrators to their victims

By Tricia Barnes, Special to The Vancouver Sun August 29, 2013

The overemphasis on the “high-risk lifestyle” of the women shifts blame away from the perpetrator to the women themselves. Moreover, referring to sex work as a high-risk occupation only works to further normalize the kind of violence that is experienced by sex workers and further stigmatizes individuals engaged in sex work.

Ultimately, this is a situation of violence against women and must be treated as such, and not the consequence of an individual’s choice to engage in sex work. When a construction worker dies on the job, the person is not implicated in the death based on a choice to do work that is potentially risky, but rather the focus is on the external factors that led to their deaths, such as faulty equipment or workplace safety.

While research has shown that indoor sex work is safer than street-based sex work, there are a number of factors that determine an individual’s level of safety. Most indoor sex work remains invisible in communities because of the stigma associated with it. Because sex work is criminalized, sex workers are isolated, with little if any access to support services.

Tricia Barnes is co-chair of the Living in Community Steering Committee

 

[PlayfulAlex]

Thank you, Ratbert

http://livingincommunity.ca

Btw, in reference to whether or not the media should have used the term "escorts" in reference to the deceased, this seems to be a common journalistic practice. In the Jodi Arias trial, she was referred to as "part-time waitress Arias" while the deceased was referred to as "salesman Alexander". What that has to do with anything, pertaining to the deceased or the accused, who knows...

 

[susi]

i have been part of living in community for years. tricia is a supporter. she and i were the communications committee for the longest time...the report helped us to get funding for a few things like our cooperative development, trade secrets and victim services tool...

this project has really bridged the divide inside the city of vancouver. politicians, business owners, residents, police, city staff, sex workers....all agreeing and working together. over 50 consultations in which the format had people talking to sex workers in small groups. it was a huge leap in the battle for the "hearts and minds" and is the reason the abolitionists don't have alot of traction here....

currently the "action plan" is being implemented in joyce/ collingwood and measured for success.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

i have been part of living in community for years. tricia is a supporter. she and i were the communications committee for the longest time...the report helped us to get funding for a few things like our cooperative development, trade secrets and victim services tool...

this project has really bridged the divide inside the city of vancouver. politicians, business owners, residents, police, city staff, sex workers....all agreeing and working together. over 50 consultations in which the format had people talking to sex workers in small groups. it was a huge leap in the battle for the "hearts and minds" and is the reason the abolitionists don't have alot of traction here....

currently the "action plan" is being implemented in joyce/ collingwood and measured for success.

Susi, you truly are an angel. Thank you for the enormous amount of unpaid hours you must put in for this cause (never mind your square business, your private life, and your escort life)! Muah!

 

[PlayfulAlex]

I just wanted to keep this thread up-to-date. Here's the CBC News story from a few days ago, complete with video comments by Susi and other advocates:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/27/bc-sex-workers.html

 

[Tugela]

The blood is not necessarily related. If cause of death is unknown (which implies no trauma) and they are waiting for toxicology, then probably it is some sort of OD.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

The blood is not necessarily related. If cause of death is unknown (which implies no trauma) and they are waiting for toxicology, then probably it is some sort of OD.

Instead of being vague, i.e. "inconclusive awaiting toxicology", it's too bad that they couldn't have added some comments in reference to the physical environment, particularly in light of her being a sex worker. If they knew there were no signs of forced entry or an attack, I think they should have added those facts. Particularly in light of their comments afterwards about safety concerns for other sex workers.

 

[Man Mountain]

Be careful in New Westminster:

Anonymous man calls police about potential kidnapping

Man calls police, says he wants to kidnap female neighbour


"Police said they could not trace the one-hour call, which was made to the non-emergency telephone number, and are taking the threats very seriously."

I heard on tonight's News Hour (on global) that similar calls were made to two other police precincts. One in Manitoba and the other was not specified at air time. In each case, I believe they mentioned that three separate calls were made and in all cases, they have been unable to trace the originating phone number. Please don't let your collective guard down but this particular incident sounds like a bad and stupid prank.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

I heard on tonight's News Hour (on global) that similar calls were made to two other police precincts. One in Manitoba and the other was not specified at air time. In each case, I believe they mentioned that three separate calls were made and in all cases, they have been unable to trace the originating phone number. Please don't let your collective guard down but this particular incident sounds like a bad and stupid prank.

http://www.680news.com/2013/09/04/b...ne-threat-made-to-three-canadian-detachments/

 

[HunkyBill]

Sounds very similar:

A 38-year-old Abbotsford man has been charged after police say they received fake tips ranging from sex assaults to plans to kill an Abbotsford Police officer.

Police say the incidents were fake, but the resources needed to investigate these mischief calls were massive.

The man is facing three counts of public mischief and one count of conveying a message to alarm.

Constable Ian MacDonald says the claims were mostly made online, but they terrified several people who thought a bomb threat was imminent and their lives were in danger.

“We are talking about canine units, explosive disposal units, numerous patrol and other resources that are going into residential neighbourhoods. We may be dealing with a high level event involving firearms or possibly scenario’s where people are being held captive.”

These fake tips came in 18 times between May and June.

“We are talking about possible explosions or people being held against their will, or when you are talking about a specific plan in which an Abbotsford Police officer is going to be killed, you have to measure what the appropriate response should be.”

He says one call frightened a group of employees who thought their building was about to be bombed, he says it was a very stressful time for everyone.

http://www.news1130.com/2013/09/05/fake-abbotsford-tipster-charged-with-public-mischief/

 

[PlayfulAlex]

Just thought I'd re-open this topic. I sure wish we'd heard something, anything by now. I'm cool until I get a creepy e-mail, like I did just now, then I get all nervous and worried again. I know we've always gotta be watchful and on-our-guard but, at times like these, it's hard to know how much caution and concern is too much, and how much is just not enough...

Thoughts?

 

[superhappyfun]

Just thought I'd re-open this topic. I sure wish we'd heard something, anything by now. I'm cool until I get a creepy e-mail, like I did just now, then I get all nervous and worried again. I know we've always gotta be watchful and on-our-guard but, at times like these, it's hard to know how much caution and concern is too much, and how much is just not enough...

Thoughts?

I think the fact that the victims lived in the same building and knew each other is more significant than the fact that they shared the same profession. If someone was just randomly killing escorts, the odds that they'd happen to be in the same building would be quite low, unless the killer lived there too. It's possible, however, that a rival SP or pimp might have killed them for territorial reasons.

 

[AnnaSteel]

OMG this was my old building!!!!! This is sooo scary........ Im so sad for the loss... terrible!!!!!!

I feel blessed i am no where near that lifestyle now....

 

[susi]

ok, so i asked lynda to contact IHIT and have heard some speculation/ rumour that there maybe an female sp serial killer working across canada. this is not a true rumour and has been confirmed by IHIT. they will let us know as soon as any info can be realsed....as follows....

Thanks for your email Linda.

I am attaching the initial poster and media release that was sent out as this warning still stands. Please assure Susan that we are moving forward in our investigation, however, many of the details on where the investigation stands, or evidence that we have retrieved to date, cannot be publicly shared at this time.

I can say that rumor and speculation never serves us well in any investigation we are working on. The theory that the killer is a female serial killer is not supported by any evidence that IHIT has gathered to date. I would ask that all attempts to quash these rumors be made as they could potentially take investigators off of their true, evidence driven path. This would obviously only prolong the process for us in getting the answers that we require to identify and apprehend a suspect.

We understand the need to know more at this time but we can only ask for the public to be patient. If and when there are updates to publicly provide, we will do so.

If there are future concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,

Jenn

 

[PlayfulAlex]

Thank you for the update, Susi, and for your efforts to assist the community, as always!

 

[PlayfulAlex]

just found this online
http://www.news1130.com/2014/01/06/significant-updates-coming-on-three-unsolved-murders/

Thank you, Miss Chambers. I don't watch TV, is anyone on the board able to catch this news conference?

http://www.surreyleader.com/news/238935401.html

 

[VanessaofBC]

Thank you, Miss Chambers. I don't watch TV, is anyone on the board able to catch this news conference?

http://www.surreyleader.com/news/238935401.html

I just got the news today and posted in the lounge.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

I just got the news today and posted in the lounge.

Thanks Miss VW, I appreciate that. I was just wondering if anyone got to watch the Press Conference, and if any other info was forthcoming...but perhaps not.