Standing Against Police Violence: Project Priceless Speaks Truth to Power
On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the Worcester City Council chambers became the site of an unprecedented confrontation between the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and advocates for justice. Off-duty police officers and their supporters packed the council chambers in a show of force in a failed attempt to overshadow the voices of survivors and activists, including members of Project Priceless—a self-organized collective of unhoused women and survivors of the sex trade.
The meeting addressed competing petitions: one from the police union using witness intimidation tactics to demand the full release of the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigatory report on WPD misconduct, and four from Project Priceless calling for systemic change and immediate relief. Their demands include an acknowledgment of harm, a building to operate a womens’ shelter, reparations, criminalization of sexual exploitation, and a commitment to abolition.
The DOJ’s summary report revealed chilling patterns of sexual violence and excessive force within the WPD. Organizers, such as Nia Guzman of Racism-Free WPS and Sathi Patel of Project Priceless, courageously spoke out against the systemic abuse detailed in the report. They faced an environment fraught with hostility, amplified by the coordinated movements and presence of the police and their supporters, who sought to undermine survivors’ credibility and silence dissent.
This display of power by the WPD highlighted a culture of impunity, one that organizers argue cannot be reformed but must be dismantled. As Guzman stated in her powerful address: “The stakes have never been higher for women in the city… We implore our community to stand united with Project Priceless and form a front against the violent class-based misogyny in our city.”
For a detailed account of this critical meeting and the broader implications of the WPD’s response to the DOJ report, read Bill Shaner’s in-depth analysis in his article on Worcester Sucks and I Love It: Worcester Sucks and I Love It.
Project Priceless stands firm in demanding accountability and justice for survivors of systemic violence. Join us in amplifying their voices and holding institutions accountable. Change begins with collective action.
For more information about Project Priceless, follow their Instagram: instagram.com/project.priceless or email priceless@worcesteryouthcoops.org