Too many Black families are left searching, grieving, and fighting for visibility. In this update, we share the powerful stories of those who are still missing and the lives that might have been saved if the Ebony Alert had been in place.

🚨 Why We Urgently Need the Ebony Alert Now:

Natalie Wilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation, puts it clearly:

“9 out of 10 missing Black children are labeled as runaways.”
This misclassification disqualifies them from receiving an Amber Alert, media coverage, or critical law enforcement resources. 🔗 Watch this video: The Importance of Shining a Spotlight on People Who Go Missing

" We know that within just 24–48 hours of being on the streets, children are often approached for sex and can be pulled into sex trafficking" -Natalie Wilson

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:

Nearly 40% of missing children in the U.S. are Black, despite making up only 13% of the child population with only 7% of those cases receiving media coverage.

🔗 Watch this video: Missing children: How racial disparities impact the search for the missing | States of America

Alexis Patterson was 7 years old when she went missing with no amber alert or media coverage. A month later 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted and immediately made national headlines. 9 months later she was found alive. It's been over 20 years and Alexis is still missing.

If there was an Ebony Alert there could have been a different outcome.

Learn about why the Ebony Alert initiative is so important. 🔗 Watch this video: What’s an “Ebony Alert" and Why It's So Important To The Black Community | TSR Newz

💔 2-Year-Old Arianna Fitz: No Amber Alert. 
Arianna Fitz was only two years old when she went missing. Despite her vulnerability, no Amber Alert was issued. The system failed her.

🔗 Watch her story: Arianna Fitts Missing

If the Ebony Alert existed in 2016, there would have been a greater chance of recovering her. She is still missing today- 8 years later.

 
🧠 A Closer Look: The Invisible Crisis- What’s Happening to Our Black Girls"

In interviews with pedophiles and traffickers they have admitted that they intentionally target Black women and girls because they know society won’t look for them. They’ve even said that if caught, the consequences won’t be as harsh.

From 64,000 in 2019 to Over 100,000 Black women and girls are currently missing as of November 2024!
These are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, cousins, grandmothers, and friends. Most Americans can name several high-profile missing white women—but not even one Black girl or woman. 

Our stories matter. Our lives matter. We deserve visibility too.

In an effort to educate the community on missing white woman syndrome and how serious of an issue this is please watch some of the following videos on the racial disparities between Black women and white women as well as the stories of missing Black individuals. 

🔗 Watch this video: Why Do Missing Black Women Cases Receive Less Attention?

It's not just missing Black girls and women who don't receive media coverage. It's young boys and men too! 🔗 Watch this video: Missing Black people, "Missing white woman syndrome" and why white media ignores our disappearances

🔗 Watch this video: Missing Black Women & Girls: Families Hope New Law Helps Find Loved Ones! | America In Black

" We're not asking for anything special. We're asking for the same level of media coverage and law enforcement resources as others"- Natalie Wilson

"1 in 3 children are solicited for sex and pimps and pedophiles are utilizing social media to interact with them and are grooming children to lure them away from their families into sex trafficking" - Natalie Wilson

🔗 Watch this video: Missing White Woman Syndrome and The Gabby Petito Case

🗣️ A Father’s Pain: The Case of Akia Eggleston
When Akia Eggleston, a young Black woman who was eight months pregnant, went missing, her father, Shawn Wilkinson, was met with silence. No widespread media coverage. No national alerts. No urgency. Her story didn’t dominate headlines the way other missing person cases often do. The pain of a parent searching for answers in a system that does not respond is unimaginable. His testimony supports why the Ebony Alert is desperately needed.

“The epidemic of missing persons of color is not a new topic, but society doesn't care about us. As a veteran who gave three tours in Iraq to protect my country, I couldn’t even get help for my pregnant daughter when she went missing.”
— Shawn Wilkinson

🔗 Watch the full testimony on The Neglected Epidemic of missing BIPOC women and girls. If short on time, we recommend starting at the 43:00 mark to hear from Akia's father and Natalie Wilson.

In Akia's disappearance there was a lack of law enforcement resources and media coverage.

If there was an Ebony Alert the outcome could have been very different.

Please watch the following videos to learn more about her.

🔗 Watch this video: Akia Eggleston still hasn't been found

🔗 Watch this video: Akia Eggleston's aunt working to secure niece's legacy

📢 Learn More and Take Action:  Learn about the Ebony Alert Washington Initiative at https://www.ebonyalertwashington.com

Please help us keep the momentum going:

✅ Sign and Share the Petition- it's free to share & helps bring awareness to the cause
✅ Sign up for the Newsletter- Stay informed and educated
✅ Donate Directly to support the Ebony Alert Initiative

While we appreciate your generosity, Please Do NOT donate to Change.org after signing. Those funds only go towards promoting the petition on their platform—not to funding the initiative.

In the 6 months since starting this petition there was $519 donated with $0 dollars going to support the work that we are doing to establish this alert.

Here is current info about donations to change.org:

37 Promoters-$519 Contributed-8,538 Purchased Views-116 Signatures

💸 $0 went to the Ebony Alert cause

The views do not guarantee signatures and money donated to change.org DOES NOT go to support the cause. If you would like to donate, please donate directly to the Ebony Alert donation fund: EBONY ALERT DONATIONS

We thank you for your continued support. You can expect more frequent updates, videos, and information. This is a national petition so anyone in the country can sign in support. Please continue to share on your social media, with co-workers, family, friends, and your networks. 

Together, we can fight for justice and visibility for our missing loved ones.