We encourage folks to turn out for Northampton’s Fourth Annual Mayor Higgins’ Hot Chocolate Run on December 1. The proceeds will benefit Safe Passage, which serves women, children and families affected by domestic violence.Choose from a 5K Road Race or a two-mile walk through downtown Northampton. The event begins at The People’s Institute, 38 Gothic Street. Start […]
What You Can Do
Ask the Valley Advocate to Stop Profiting from the Sexual Exploitation of Women
We have heard that the Valley Advocate, our local alternative weekly, prides itself on championing the cause of the underdog. Unfortunately, if that underdog is female, another champion will need to be found.In the back pages of the Advocate, and on their websites, you will find ads like the following:Escorts, Massage, or TVs/TS REBEKA Sweet, Sexy […]
MSN UK: Pimp My Live
The world’s largest software company casually throws around the word “pimp” to sell people on Windows Live. It doesn’t get much more mainstream than that. When you consider what pimping is generally about–the abusive physical control of women to turn tricks for cash–it takes your breath away. Feel free to give Microsoft your opinion.See also:Realities […]
Letter to Gazette: “Porn store is going to have a bad effect on children”
Today’s Gazette publishes a letter from Jessica Grant of Northampton: Driving my children down Summer Street to Market Street as I do several times a week I was disturbed to see a brightly colored sign adorned with stars on the soon-to-be-open porn store on King Street…At what age would a child be able to type […]
Hackers Crow about “Downing” Feminist Websites; Image Raeping (explicit language)
First Amendment or no, it is remarkable how often porn defenders and anti-feminists leap to disrupt and suppress speech they don’t like. August has seen a wave of hacker action against feminist websites, as documented by Encyclopedia Dramatica, a kind of wikipedia for hackers. You may want to use a proxy service when visiting this […]
Ricky Martin Campaigns Against Child Sex Trafficking
The Ricky Martin Foundation has targeted the sexual exploitation of children since 2004. Over the next six months, Martin will appear on Dominican television and radio to warn about human trafficking and sexual exploitation. “According to some reports, more women are trafficked from the Dominican Republic than from any other country in the Western Hemisphere,” […]
Viewing Booths and HIV: An Open Letter to Thomas Lesser of Northampton, Attorney for Capital Video
On June 20, we delivered a version of the following letter to Thomas Lesser and his associates at Lesser, Newman, Souweine & Nasser, a law firm in Northampton. Mr. Lesser represents Capital Video, which is trying to hang on to its viewing booth entertainment license in Springfield. We have not yet received any response, so […]
NoPornNorthampton’s One-Year Anniversary
Today is the one-year anniversary of the launch of NoPornNorthampton. It all began with “Gazette Reports Porn Shop to Open at 135 King Street”, posted on 6/30/06. Capital Video had intended to open a 6,000+ square foot porn shop with 20 enclosed viewing booths. Today, after dedicated efforts from many citizens and public officials, new […]
Gazette: “Porn store’s viewing booths raise stink in Springfield”
On June 18 Capital Video underwent a long-awaited violation hearing in Springfield. At issue was the viewing booth entertainment license of its Amazing.net porn shop in Apremont Triangle. This store has been controversial since its installation in 1990. The viewing booths were added in 1992. Several Springfield police officers and undercover detectives testified during the […]
Old Navy Celebrates Notorious Thailand Prostitution Center on T-Shirt
“Go-Go Pattaya Thailand, Open 24 Hours”, says one of Old Navy’s Summer Destination Tees for Men, now on sale for $8.70. Pattaya, for those who don’t know, is a notorious center for Thailand’s prostitution industry. Many sailors in the US Navy are familiar with it. Salon writes, Pattaya Beach — which the Toronto Star once […]