ALBANY, NY (WENY)-- A NEW LAW IN NEW YORK WILL ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS MISSING WOMEN AND GIRLS OF COLOR.  

ACCORDING TO THE FBI’S NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER, OF THE MORE THAN 271,000 MISSING WOMEN AND GIRLS REPORTED IN 2022, 43 PERCENT BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR PEOPLE OF COLOR. 

THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS CELEBRATE THE NEW LAW—HIGHLIGHTING THE CRITICAL NEED TO DEDICATE MORE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO MISSING PERSONS CASES FOR BIPOC WOMEN AND GIRLS.  

“No family should ever have these kinds of experiences. And it's important that as a community that we put equitable resources in place so that our families can heal,” said Sen. Lea Webb (D-52nd Senate District).

SOME LAWMAKERS STRESS CASES OF MISSING GIRLS OF COLOR WHO DID NOT receive AN AMBER ALERT—HIGHLIGHTING THE CASE OF 16-YEAR-OLD JAKARAH LOPEZ-MOORE WHO WENT MISSING IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR AND WAS FOUND DEAD NEARLY TWO MONTHS LATER.  

“And to think that there have been parents, not just Jakarah’s family, but so many families who have felt that anguish and when they’ve sought the help, they don’t get it in the same way that others do,” said Sen. Samra Brouk (D-55th Senate District).

SOME ADVOCATES WHO HAVE LONG FOUGHT FOR POLICY LIKE THIS SAY THE TASK FORCE CAN HELP BREAK BARRIERS AND ACHIEVE JUSTICE.  

“When you do this work, you learn quickly as you work with families that silence is loud and injustice lasts a very long time,” said Dawn Rowe, president & CEO of Girl Vow, Inc.

THE TASK FORCE WILL MAKE POLICY recommendations, increase education and identify hubs where abductions are more likely to occur. AND LAWMAKERS SAid THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ON THE TASK FORCE IS UNDERWAY.