According to various media outlets (CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post, HipHopDX), there is a perceived influx of Black and Latina girls that have gone missing in the DC area.
DC officials maintain that there isn’t an increase in missing persons but a change in the way information is getting out to the public (social media). With that being said, it’s important that this issue is brought to the light.
“The numbers are alarmingly high, said Derrica Wilson, co-founder and president of the Black and Missing Foundation in an interview with FOX 5 DC on Wednesday evening.
“So to say that there is not an uptick in the number of kids that are going missing– to see that 10 children go missing within two weeks– that right there is alarming in itself,” Wilson continued.
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has created a task force for missing children, which aims to determine what social services teenagers who run away need to stabilize their home lives. It’s great to hear that Bowser is making moves to address this situation at a high level.
“Often times, these girls are repeat runaways,” said Kevin Harris, a spokesman for the mayor. “So if we really want to help solve this problem and bring down the numbers, we have to break the cycle of young people, especially young girls, who repeatedly run away from home.”
6 steps we are taking to protect our youth https://t.co/jPP82vGtvD#talkdontrun help for youth & parents/guardians https://t.co/VWX5GTicCY pic.twitter.com/mx0rc75MFT
— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) March 24, 2017
Missing Person: Anjel Burl, 16, last seen 3/22 in 200 block of 43rd Rd., NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/1KrT8TPeQi
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 24, 2017
Critical Missing: Demetria Carthens, 17, last seen 2/7 in 200 block of I St, SE. Last seen wearing thin blue coat, black jeans and boots. pic.twitter.com/L812Fm5JxO
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 23, 2017
Missing Person: Katherine Hunter, 17, last seen 3/21/17 in 100 block of Mississippi Ave, SE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/pSPU8XKzPt
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 22, 2017
Black lawmakers have called on the FBI to help police investigate. In a letter sent to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey, they’ve asked them to “devote the resources necessary to determine whether these developments are an anomaly or whether they are indicative of an underlying trend that must be addressed,” the AP reports. (Via HipHopDX)
We want our youth to know help is available for them. It's so important to #talkdontrun so we can get you the help you need. Call 800RUNAWAY pic.twitter.com/3ePzLtfUJT
— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) March 24, 2017
Hip-Hop artists are using their platforms to let the public know about the deeply disturbing fact that more than 10 girls have gone missing within the past week. Some believe that the missing girls are connected to crimes of human trafficking and organ harvesting, which intensifies the need to cover this.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSBu8OpgxJG/?taken-by=lecrae
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSBvrfLjbpv/?taken-by=msnatalielauren
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSACjXFl-wz/?taken-by=llcoolj
Join us in prayer for these beautiful queens/daughters of God. Help bring awareness to missing children.
FEATURED IMAGE VIA NATALIE LAUREN’S INSTAGRAM
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