*California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed legislation making the state the first in the country to create an alert system for missing Black women and children.
The move has sparked outrage online, with critics calling the new “Ebony Alert” system “racist”.
The law was passed unanimously by both chambers of California’s legislature, the Washington Examiner reports. The goal of the bill is to address the “often ignored or lack of attention given to Black children and young Black women that are missing in California,” according to a statement. The law is set to go into effect on Jan. 1.
Per the statement, which cites the Black and Missing Foundation, “38% of children reported missing in the U.S. are Black. The U.S. population is 14% Black. Black children are disproportionately classified as “runaways” in comparison to their white counterparts who are classified as “missing” and, therefore, many Black children do not receive the Amber Alert.”
California’s new Ebony Alert for missing Black people is already causing outrage. https://t.co/gGaA7hXUS4
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 11, 2023
The statement also notes, “A recent report on human trafficking incidents across the country also found that 40% of sex trafficking victims were identified as Black women.”
“California is taking bold and needed action to locate missing black children and black women in California,” Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford, who led the legislation, said in a press release. “Our black children and young women are disproportionately represented on the lists of missing persons. This is heartbreaking and painful for so many families and a public crisis for our entire state.”
Bradford is defending the new law amid the online backlash … telling TMZ Live that law enforcement has consistently failed to issue alerts for missing Black youths. He also reminded the haters that missing Black kids don’t get nearly as much media coverage.
“SB 673 would authorize a law enforcement agency to request that an Ebony Alert be activated if that agency determines that it would be an effective tool in the investigation of a missing Black youth or young Black women between the ages of 12 – 25 years. SB 673 would encourage news organizations including television, cable, online, radio and social media outlets to cooperate with disseminating the information contained in an Ebony Alert,” per the statement.
Meanwhile, folks in California are outraged that there will be separate alert systems for missing children based on race. Check out some of the reactions below via TMZ.
READ MORE: California Awaits Gov. Newsom’s Approval on Ebony Alert Bill for Missing Black Youth
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