This Giving Tuesday, we are looking to raise $10,000 to support our Stop the Raids Ho Down in response to the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, CA.
In the next few years, California will see a number of large sporting events, including the 2026 Super Bowl, in Santa Clara, and 2028 Olympics in Greater Los Angeles. These events will bring about swaths of raids—every year, federal and local law enforcement conduct harmful, dangerous raids on sex workers in advance of the Super Bowl under the guise of fighting sex trafficking.
But year after year, these Super Bowl raids have failed to identify few, if any actual trafficking victims. Instead, they disrupt and destroy the lives of sex workers, who are subsequently forced through the criminal justice system for a publicity stunt. A report from the USC Gould School of Law’s International Human Rights Clinic strongly advocates against raids, calling them “ineffective” against trafficking and “traumatizing” to sex workers, predominantly women of color.
Not only will these events see increased raids on sex workers, but the impact will be worsened following recent California state legislation. California lawmakers recently passed AB379, which creates a new criminal offense, to “loiter in any public place with the intent to purchase commercial sex.” This law goes into effect in January 2026, right before the 2026 Super Bowl in February. AB379 creates a deportable offense that is subject to local law enforcement or ICE’s determination of “intent.” Read our grant writer Megan Hobza’s op-ed about AB379 and its likely effects.
Ahead of AB379’s implementation and the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, we will be hosting informational zooms to warn our bay area community and organizing a rally with media support to share knowledge and prepare the wider community.
We’re hoping to raise $10,000 this Giving Tuesday to support our Ho Down, where funds will help us cover language interpreters, transportation for sex workers and advocates, compensate training facilitators, rally materials, and more.
Ways you can show your support:
Donate:
You can donate on a one-time or monthly basis directly to our Giving Tuesday campaign below or on the campaign site.
Share on Social Media:
- Visit our Giving Tuesday campaign site.
- Below the total tracker, share our campaign site with your network via social media or email.
Hold your own ESPLERP fundraiser:
Did you know you can run your own mini-fundraiser?
- Visit our Giving Tuesday campaign site.
- Under the social media icons, select “Start a Fundraiser.”
- Set your own fundraising goal, name, note, and image.
- Share with your network!
