Chinese: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X0kgbncQp3Q0Qdh93bvE5v8xCxavXGLXv_T8gFoP9Bo/edit?usp=sharing

Korean: [Korean] Red Canary Song Response to 8 Lives Lost in Atlanta

**** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ****

Red Canary Song

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

Radical Healing from State and Community Violence

Mourning with Asian Massage Workers in the Americas

关注按摩院员工生命和工作安全！

亚裔按摩院来自社区回馈社区！

亚裔按摩院合法工作权利必须保护！

亚裔按摩员工的命不能白白葬送！

按摩院工作合法专业应得全美社会尊重和保护！

In the wake of the deaths of multiple Asian women massage workers in Georgia, we are sending radical love, care, and healing to all of our community members. We acknowledge the ongoing pain and grief from continued violent assaults on our Asian and Asian American, APIA community, which has been compounded by the alienation, isolation, and violence brought on by racist rhetoric and governmental neglect in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are concerned that many of those calling for action in this moment have and will continue to endorse violence towards Asian sex workers, massage workers, and survivors.

We reject the call for increased policing in response to this tragedy. The impulse to call for increased policing is even greater in the midst of rising anti-Asian violence calling for carceral punishment. We understand the pain that motivates our Asian and Asian-American community members’ call for increased policing, but we nevertheless stand against it. Policing has never been an effective response to violence because the police are agents of white supremacy. Policing has never kept sex workers or massage workers or immigrants safe. The criminalization and demonization of sex work has hurt and killed countless people--many at the hands of the police both directly and indirectly. Due to sexist racialized perceptions of Asian women, especially those engaged in vulnerable, low-wage work, Asian massage workers are harmed by the criminalization of sex work, regardless of whether they engage in it themselves.

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.

Media coverage that examines the racist or sexist motivations of the killings as independent of each other fail to grasp the deeply connected histories of racialized violence and paternalistic rescue complexes that inform the violence experienced by Asian massage workers. We see the effort to invisibilize these women's gender, labor, class, and immigration status as a refusal to reckon with the legacy of United States imperialism, and as a desire to collapse the identities of migrant Asian women, sex workers, massage workers, and trafficking survivors. The women who were killed faced specific racialized gendered violence for being Asian women and massage workers. Whether or not they were actually sex workers or self-identified under that label, we know that as massage workers, they were subjected to sexualized violence stemming from the hatred of sex workers, Asian women, working class people, and immigrants.

We are asking that the community stand in solidarity with us and all immigrant and migrant massage workers and sex workers. We highlight the following demands from NY-based massage parlor workers:

1. Pay attention to the life and work safety of massage and salon employees!

2. Asian massage workers and businesses come from the community and give back to the community!

3. The legal working rights of Asian massage workers must be protected!

4. The lives of Asian massage workers must not be lost in vain!

5. The legal profession of massage work should be respected and protected by US society!

Signed,

Red Canary Song

Contact:

Redcanarysong.org (https://www.redcanarysong.org)

redcanarysong@gmail.com 

We, the undersigned, join Red Canary Song

If your organization would like to sign on to this statement, you can add your signature here.

  1. Woodhull Freedom Foundation
  2. SWOP Bronx
  3. Make the Road NY
  4. Community EsTr(El/La)
  5. Black and Pink Massachusetts
  6. Survived & Punished NY
  7. Jornadas Trans Latino America/Europa
  8. RespeTrans
  9. Black Trans Nation LLC
  10. Black Trans Nation NY Inc
  11. DECRIMTNNOW
  12. TransEmedia
  13. TransRefugeeIniative
  14. SWOP Brooklyn
  15. Bluestockings
  16. Kink Out
  17. Queer Healers
  18. Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center
  19. The Human Rights Project of the Urban Justice Center
  20. Support Ho(s)e
  21. National Harm Reduction Coalition
  22. Hacking//Hustling
  23. Decoding Stigma
  24. Decrim NY
  25. Lysistrata Mutual Care Collective & Fund
  26. Asian American Feminist Collective
  27. Pacific Rim Solidarity Network (PARISOL) Seattle
  28. Bend the Arc Jewish Action
  29. Positive Women’s Network - USA
  30. Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform
  31. Stella, l’amie de Maimie (Montréal, Canada)
  32. Rocky Mountain Sex Worker Coalition
  33. Southeast Asian Freedom Network
  34. Somos Familia Valle
  35. SWOP Behind Bars
  36. Alliance to Mobilize our Resistance
  37. Ocean State Ass Fund
  38. The New York City Anti-Violence Project
  39. COYOTE RI
  40. SWOP New England
  41. BAYSWAN
  42. Chinatown Community for Equitable Development (Los Angeles)
  43. Coalition for Rights & Safety for People in the Sex Trade
  44. Chicago House and Social Service Agency
  45. Advocating Opportunity
  46. Chinatown Art Brigade
  47. BIPOC Adult Industry Collective
  48. AAPI Women Lead
  49. Sông2Sea (Seattle)
  50. Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
  51. Legal Voice (Seattle)
  52. Center for Sex & Culture (San Francisco)
  53. Sacred Wounds Productions (LA)
  54. Solutions NOT Punishment Collaborative, Inc.
  55. Changing Frequencies
  56. Yellow Jackets Collective
  57. Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
  58. Whose Corner Is It Anyway 
  59. Urban Survivors Union
  60. DecrimMA
  61. PONY (Prostitutes of New York)
  62. GAPIMNY — Empowering Queer & Trans Asian Pacific Islanders
  63. KQTxNYC
  64. Q-Wave - Building Queer & Trans API Community Since 2004
  65. NAPAWF*NYC
  66. Asians 4 Abolition
  67. Center for Constitutional Rights
  68. SWOP Atlanta
  69. BAWS (Bay Area Workers Support - Oakland)
  70. Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association
  71. Lausan 流傘 Collective0
    Midnight Blue (Hong Kong)
  72. St James Infirmary (San Francisco)
  73. Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound (Washington State)
  74. Jewish Voice for Peace - Atlanta
  75. Empower Foundation Thailand
  76. Reframe Health and Justice
  77. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
  78. Showing Up For Racial Justice, National
  79. Migrant Sex Workers Project
  80. The Well Project
  81. We Are Dancers USA
  82. SWOP-Chicago
  83. MASWAN (Massachusetts Sex Worker Ally Network)
  84. Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights
  85. CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities
  86. 18 Million Rising
  87. Scarlet ChaCha (South Korea)
  88. Decrim PA
  89. Survivor Siblings
  90. National Center for Lesbian Rights
  91. Whorevolution
  92. Hookers Army
  93. Rutgers LGBTQ Legal Clinic
  94. Asian Leather and Kink Alliance (ALKA)
  95. Black & Pink National
  96. Community Resource Hub for Safety & Accountability
  97. CHANGE (Center for Health and Gender Equity)
  98. Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE)
  99. Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
  100. ANSWER Detroit
  101. Detroit Will Breathe
  102. Black Hustlers Mutual Aid
  103. Red de Resistencia y Disidencia Sexual y de Género
  104. The WeChat Project/ 心声
  105. Sero Project
  106. Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective
  107. SWARM (Sex Workers Advocacy and Resistance Movement) UK
  108. Decrim Now UK
  109. Collective Action for Safe Spaces
  110. Equality Federation
  111. Movement for Family Power
  112. NAPAWF - Georgia Chapter
  113. South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
  114. Third Wave Fund
  115. Sex Worker Giving Circle
  116. Feminist Bird Club
  117. Add the Words, Idaho
  118. Policing and Social Justice Project
  119. Columbia Queer and Asian
  120. Moms United Against Violence & Incarceration
  121. DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving
  122. MADRE
  123. Red Umbrella Sweden
  124. Duke OutLaw
  125. Showing up for Racial Justice - Toronto
  126. TAPAS
  127. Catalyst Project
  128. Peace Action New York State
  129. Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC)
  130. Manhattan Young Democrats
  131. Sex Workers of Winnipeg Action Coalition
  132. UnLocal
  133. Wellesley Chinese Students Association
  134. Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research
  135. The Legal Aid Society's Exploitation Intervention Project
  136. Detroit Disability Power
  137. Justice2Jobs Sacramento
  138. South Asian Public Health Association
  139. ForFortyTwo
  140. GLAAD
  141. Montclair Beyond Policing
  142. National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
  143. The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health
  144. Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC)
  145. API Chaya
  146. FTP Movement
  147. Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC)
  148. Japanese American Citizens League
  149. Right to the City Alliance
  150. ACLU of Southern California
  151. Takeover Network
  152. OPAWL- Building AAPI Feminist Leadership in Ohio
  153. Resource Generation
  154. The Leap
  155. Apogee Journal
  156. Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University
  157. SWOP-USA
  158. I-ACCESS
  159. Transgender Law Center
  160. brASS: Brown RadicalAss Burlesque
  161. Santa Fe Dreamers Project
  162. Justice League of Queers
  163. Jewish Voice for Peace - New York City
  164. E.A.R.T.H. Lab
  165. Citizen Action New York
  166. Los Angeles Spoonie Collective
  167. Center For Anti -Violence Education
  168. US PROStitutes Collective
  169. New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)
  170. Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala
  171. Coalition Against Trans Antagonism
  172. Haymarket Pole Collective Portland Oregon
  173. Viet Collective for Community Justice
  174. National Lawyers Guild (NLG)
  175. Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
  176. The Sống Collective
  177. Patanjali de la Rocha/Birth Beyond Bars
  178. South Asian Queer + Trans Collective
  179. Friends of Chinatown Toronto
  180. Asian American Progressive Student Union
  181. Urban Librarians Unite
  182. Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations
  183. Center for Disability Rights
  184. Desiree Alliance
  185. Brandworkers
  186. Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement
  187. Mama Africa Black Power Feminist Organization
  188. Justice Committee
  189. R.A.C.E. for Restorative Justice
  190. APIENC
  191. Florida Harm Reduction Collective
  192. Disability Education Empowerment and Pride
  193. California Coalition for Women Prisoners
  194. LA Polyamory
  195. Covid Bail Out NYC
  196. Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting
  197. Just Futures Law
  198. WPN Power
  199. SURJ SWFL (Showing Up for Racial Justice of Southwest Florida)
  200. We Are The Radicals - St. John’s University
  201. Asian American Organizing Project (AAOP)
  202. Fireweed Collective
  203. Audre Lorde Project
  204. Asians4BlackBirths
  205. NEO Philanthropy
  206. American Jewish World Service
  207. Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement
  208. Scientists for Sex Worker Rights
  209. South Asian Queer + Trans Collective
  210. TIGERRS: Transgender, Intersex, Gender-Expansive Revolutionary Resources & Services
  211. Asian Leather and Kink Alliance (ALKA)
  212. Northern New Mexico SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice)
  213. Partnership for Community Action
  214. No Justice No Pride
  215. Sista Fire RI
  216. ACLU of Northern California
  217. POC SWOP
  218. Green Light Project
  219. Southside Action Pact
  220. Bailey's Cafe
  221. NYC-DSA Racial Justice Working Group
  222. Chicago AfroSOC
  223. DC Maryland Virgina (DMV) Disability & Sr Community Group
  224. Survived and Punished
  225. Survived and Punished California,
  226. Korean American Coalition to End Domestic Abuse
  227. The Decarceration Collective
  228. Neighbors Against White Supremacy (NAWS) Central Queens
  229. Red Bloom Communist Collective
  230. Sex Worker Project at Judson Church NYC
  231. National Immigration Litigation Alliance
  232. KQTx National
  233. Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC)
  234. Immigrant Justice Network
  235. Never Again Action
  236. Slant'd
  237. Envisioning Safety On Our Campuses DC/MD
  238. White People 4 Black Lives
  239. Grass x Grass
  240. Inner Hoe Uprising Podcast
  241. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR)
  242. IWW IU690 Organizing Committee NYC
  243. Central Colorado Showing Up For Racial Justice (CCSURJ)
  244. Community Equity Coalition
  245. Girls Justice League
  246. Dartmouth Student Union
  247. SWOP LA
  248. Assembly Four
  249. Cornerstone Doula Trainings
  250. Northwest Side Coalition Against Racism & Hate
  251. Causa Justa :: Just Cause
  252. Sunnyside & Woodside Mutual Aid
  253. Encian Pastel
  254. The Lunar Times
  255. Michigan Solidarity Bail Fund
  256. Emergent Fund
  257. Anakbayan Long Beach
  258. A Network of Sex Workers to Excite Revolution - Detroit
  259. SURJ Sacramento
  260. LGBTQ Allyship (Seattle)
  261. SWEAR WA (Australia)
  262. Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
  263. North Star Fund
  264. Mekong NYC
  265. Funders for LGBTQ Issues
  266. Indivisible Acton Area
  267. Scientists For Sex Worker Rights
  268. The Safety Net Project - Urban Justice Center
  269. SAVE
  270. Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice
  271. Beloved Community Incubator
  272. Graduate Employees Organization (GEO)
  273. Champaign County Bailout Coalition (CCBC)
  274. Asians 4 Black Lives
  275. Shadow Traffic
  276. Release MN8
  277. I Am Human Foundation
  278. Funders for LGBTQ Issues
  279. La Resistencia NW
  280. Jewish Voice for Peace New Haven
  281. Women's Foundation of Florida
  282. Emergency Release Fund
  283. AIDS United
  284. Reclaim UGLY
  285. Prevention Access Campaign
  286. CIRCA Pintig
  287. Queer|Art
  288. South Warren Alliance of Radical Movement
  289. Prison Abolition Prisoner Support (PAPS)
  290. Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO
  291. Durham Beyond Policing
  292. Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
  293. Labor Against Racist Terror
  294. STEPS to End Family Violence
  295. Labor for Palestine
  296. Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies
  297. CODEPINK
  298. Feminist Foreign Policy Project
  299. Abolitionist Youth
  300. No Detention Centers in Michigan
  301. Black Trans and Queer Collective - LA
  302. Asian Youth for Civic Engagement
  303. Freedom Network USA
  304. National Employment Law Project
  305. United Kingdom Democratic Socialists of America (UK DSA)
  306. Laotian American National Alliance
  307. Nikkei Uprising
  308. International Contemporary Ensemble
  309. East Coast Asian American Student Union
  310. Tea Base
  311. NONYU Coalition
  312. SWOP Minneapolis
  313. Oasis Legal Services
  314. Showing Up For Racial Justice Lower Columbia / SWWA
  315. Red Umbrella Fund
  316. Margo St. James Memorial Tribute Collective
  317. English Collective of Prostitutes
  318. Respect Inc, Queensland, Australia
  319. Occupy Bergen County (New Jersey)
  320. Hurriyyah Collective
  321. Harm Reduction Treatment Training and Technical Solution (HaRT3S)
  322. Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center
  323. SWOP Sacramento