Alabama Lawmaker Proposes Ebony Alert System for Missing Black Individuals
Montgomery, AL – Alabama State Representative Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, has pre-filed a groundbreaking bill aimed at establishing an alert system dedicated solely to finding missing Black individuals aged 12 to 25. Known as the Ebony Alert, the proposed system would function similarly to the existing Amber Alert system.
In her bill, HB19, Givan seeks to address the disparity in media coverage and investigative attention that often surrounds cases of missing persons based on race. “Nobody sees us,” Givan stated, highlighting the concerning trend that incidents involving people of color receive significantly less publicized attention than those involving white individuals.
This issue, previously dubbed “Missing White Woman Syndrome” by late journalist Gwen Ifill, underscores the societal biases in the response to missing person cases. Reports from the National Crime Information Center reveal that in 2022, approximately 546,000 individuals were reported missing, with Black women and children representing 36% of these cases, a figure that starkly contrasts with their 13% share of the U.S. population.
California recently implemented a similar Ebony Alert system, pioneered by State Senator Steven Bradford, demonstrating a growing recognition of this issue nationwide. Givan expressed confidence that her legislation will move forward despite previous setbacks, including the backlash from the Carlee Russell kidnapping hoax, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness about missing Black individuals.
“This bill simply says that Black women and women of color matter,” Givan reiterated. She remains hopeful that the legislation will gain traction and ultimately secure passage, ensuring that cases of missing Black individuals receive the urgent attention they deserve.
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