Trainwrecks, CATW, and actually opposing anti-woman laws and action

Or: Yes, I've completely run out of patience, why do you ask?

Trainwreck.

Summary of trainwreck: Cath posted the horribly disturbing video that's been going around of a Chicago cop beating a fifteen year old black girl. Some comments are made. Jill Brenneman shows up, points out that this is what happens to women when they're alone with police, and that this is one reason to push for decriminalisation of the sale of sexual services. She points out that that is one of the few areas in which sex workers rights advocates and anti-sex work radical feminists agree: that the sex worker should not be legally punished for selling sexual services. She also points out that CATW, an organisation supported by radical feminists, are on record congratulating Chicago police for recent actions that included the arrest of sex workers, states that she feels the words of radical feminists would have weight with CATW, and encourages the commenters at Cath's blog to write to CATW.

Then the commenters attack her for the company she keeps, insult her a bunch, RenEv shows up and... no, wait, no. No. Fuck it. Fuck that part, fuck it, I don't fucking care. It's the same fucking trainwreck we've seen again and again and again, women fighting women, and insults and venom being thrown around and the original point being completely lost. Fuck it.

I want to address those who, regardless of political stance or beliefs about sex work, agree that arresting sex workers is not and never will be a good thing for women, especially those women involved in the sex industry. I want to address those who agree that the selling of sexual services should be decriminalised, regardless of what you think should happen to those who buy them, and I want to address those who feel that CATW commenting favourably on an action that led to the arrest of women for prostitution without pushing for future actions to reject this focus. You can be the most avowedly pro-Swedish Model radfem I've ever encountered, for all I care, or the most devout fan of the sex workers rights framework in the world.

If you're against the support of action that harms women engaged in prostitution, especially by an organisation that purports to work for the rights and safety of women in prostitution, contact CATW and say so. A simple note expressing disappointment that they have added their voice in support of legal punishment for women selling sex can go a long way if enough of them are sent.

Oh, and feel free to read or not read the comment thread on the trainwreck before you do so. It doesn't really make a difference, because the comment thread has pretty much fucking nothing to do with either this issue, or with the video that made up most of the post.