A California legislator proposed a bill to create an “Ebony Alert” system that would inform people about missing black children and young women, similar to the Amber Alert.

State Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) introduced Senate Bill 673 last week, citing the over

–

representation and under

–

Reporting missing black children and young women in California.

The Ebony Alert would ensure that resources and attention are given so that we can bring home missing black women and black children the same way we would search for every missing child and missing person, Bradford said.

The bill would allow law enforcement agencies to authorize the issuance of a

“

Ebony warning

“

in cases

where in which

they think the alert would aid in their investigation of a missing person. The law allows alerts to be sent in missing persons cases involving black youth

S

or young black women

between the

ages

by

12

and to

25, according to Bradford.

In 2018, black kids

younger than below

18 made up about 37% of all missing children in the US, despite being black children

only

making up

only

about 14% of the country’s population, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI National Crime Information Center.

It’s not the first bill of its kind in California. Similar laws have already been passed for the elderly (Silver Alert), people with mental health problems and missing indigenous peoples (Feather Alert).

the

Below the”

Ebony warning

“

account

,

states that law enforcement could ask the California Highway Patrol to send an alert in the “correct geographic area” in cases.

where in which

Black youth

S

have been “reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances

,

.”

according to the text of the bill.