Sign the petition: Urge your local legislature to address the plight of missing and murdered Black women and girls
Uniquely vulnerable and all but erased from public discourse about murdered and missing persons, Black women and girls go missing at higher rates, and Black women die of homicide at twice the rate of other women.
To address this disparity, Rep. Ruth Richardson of Minnesota successfully introduced the Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force, which was unanimously approved and signed into law this September. The task force is modeled after Minnesota's task force that focuses on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force convenes a panel where members focus on addressing systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, data collection, investigating policies that impact Indigenous women, reducing violent crimes against Indigenous women, and providing support to victims and their families. The Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force is expected to operate similarly.
Too many missing persons cases go unpublicized, particularly that of missing Black women. This disparity is even more prevalent for Black trans women. Black women and girls' stories deserve to be told. Despite this, a 2016 analysis of local and national news found that Black people made up only 13% of missing persons coverage even though they account for nearly 35% of missing persons.
Black women and girls face a multitude of assumptions that work to dehumanize and blame them for their disappearances, diverting resources and necessary publicity away from their cases. Too often, law enforcement and the public classify Black women and girls as runaways as opposed to actual missing persons whose families are still looking for answers.
As Rep. Ruth Richardson writes, “We have to consider root causes of historical trauma, systemic racism, sexism, sexual objectification of Black women and girls, and the vulnerabilities that poverty, homelessness, child welfare disparities, domestic violence, sex trafficking and fear of law enforcement create.”
There are over 64,000 missing Black women and girls. Your local legislature has the authority to address the disparity in resources and attention given to these cases. They have the power to provide resources for families and victims impacted by these crimes.
Sign the petition: Urge your local legislature to address the plight of missing and murdered Black women and girls.
Participating Organizations
Alternate ROOTS
To address this disparity, Rep. Ruth Richardson of Minnesota successfully introduced the Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force, which was unanimously approved and signed into law this September. The task force is modeled after Minnesota's task force that focuses on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force convenes a panel where members focus on addressing systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, data collection, investigating policies that impact Indigenous women, reducing violent crimes against Indigenous women, and providing support to victims and their families. The Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force is expected to operate similarly.
Too many missing persons cases go unpublicized, particularly that of missing Black women. This disparity is even more prevalent for Black trans women. Black women and girls' stories deserve to be told. Despite this, a 2016 analysis of local and national news found that Black people made up only 13% of missing persons coverage even though they account for nearly 35% of missing persons.
Black women and girls face a multitude of assumptions that work to dehumanize and blame them for their disappearances, diverting resources and necessary publicity away from their cases. Too often, law enforcement and the public classify Black women and girls as runaways as opposed to actual missing persons whose families are still looking for answers.
As Rep. Ruth Richardson writes, “We have to consider root causes of historical trauma, systemic racism, sexism, sexual objectification of Black women and girls, and the vulnerabilities that poverty, homelessness, child welfare disparities, domestic violence, sex trafficking and fear of law enforcement create.”
There are over 64,000 missing Black women and girls. Your local legislature has the authority to address the disparity in resources and attention given to these cases. They have the power to provide resources for families and victims impacted by these crimes.
Sign the petition: Urge your local legislature to address the plight of missing and murdered Black women and girls.
Participating Organizations
Alternate ROOTS
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Atlanta, GA