I'm at a Loss

[Content note: dehumanization of sex worker, murder, mention of rape]

I don't even know what to say about this story I just saw tweeted by Flavia Dzodan.

A Bexar County jury on Wednesday acquitted Ezekiel Gilbert of murder in the death of a 23-year-old Craigslist escort [Lenora Ivie Frago]...

During closing arguments Tuesday, Gilbert's defense team conceded the shooting did occur but said the intent wasn't to kill. Gilbert's actions were justified, they argued, because he was trying to retrieve stolen property: the $150 he paid Frago. It became theft when she refused to have sex with him or give the money back, they said.

Of course, I don't know the full details of the defense or all the information shared in the case, but I DO know that this guy isn't even denying shooting this woman. And this his defense strategy rested on the idea that his actions were justified because he was trying to recover $150...which is apparently more important than Fago's ability to continue to live her life. I'm afraid to see what the court transcripts might show of the defense dragging her through the mud in order to try to portray Gilbert as the victim.

If this doesn't show the dehumanization of sex workers, I'm not sure what does. It reminds me of the whole, "If you rape a prostitute is it rape or is it actually theft" bullshit question that I see asked by horrible people all the time.

It makes me want to scream.

And as Dzodan also pointed out on her Twitter, contrast this with the case where a woman got 20 years for firing a warning shot at her abuser.

Ah yes, our amazing "justice" system in action, folks.

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