WASHINGTON EBONY ALERT - SB 6070

Hello Community,

Happy Black History month! We're reaching out with urgent and important news that requires immediate community action.

SB 6070 is officially live and in the legislative process, and it includes the creation of the Ebony Alert. This is a major milestone after more than a year of sustained advocacy, education, and community organizing. Now is the moment where your participation truly matters.

This bill exists because our communities demanded to be seen, protected, and prioritized!

  MOST IMPORTANT: TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY  
The public hearing in the Ways & Means committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 5th at 1:30pm PST.

We need as many people as possible to testify in support of SB 6070.

The Ebony Alert Is at a Pivotal Stage: Washington Lawmakers Are Deciding Whether Our Missing Loved Ones Are Worth the Investment- Please sign up in support of SB 6070 by 2/5 @1:30pm PST

Hello Community,

The Ebony Alert initiative, Senate Bill 6070, is scheduled to be heard in the Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, February 5th at 1:30 p.m. This committee reviews the fiscal impact of legislation, and it is a critical step in the bill’s path toward becoming law.

Action Needed immediately: We are asking everyone in the community who supports this petition to do the following:

1. Sign in PRO in support of SB 6070 for the legislative record
2. Submit a short-written statement explaining why you support the Ebony Alert initiative
   Written testimony is important so legislators can see that support is coming from real people and community members, not automated or generic sign-ins.

If you are able to testify verbally, please sign up to do so. Virtual testimony is available. If not, written testimony is essential.

More information about the Legislative process:

What the Ways & Means Committee does:
The Ways & Means Committee is the committee that decides whether a bill is financially viable and whether the state is willing to pay for it.

In simple terms, they ask:

  1. 💰How much will this bill cost the state?
  2. 📊Where will the money come from?
  3. ⚖️Is the cost justified compared to other priorities?
  4.🧾 Does the fiscal note make sense, or does it need changes?

Why it matters so much: Once a bill reaches Ways & Means, it means:

  1. ✅The bill has already passed policy review (they agree with the idea)
  2. 🔥Now it must survive budget scrutiny

This is often where good bills stall or die if:

Legislators think the cost is too high
There isn’t enough visible public support
The issue isn’t framed as urgent or necessary
That’s why showing up, signing in PRO, and submitting written testimony is critical here. 

Ways & Means members need to see that:

Real people are paying attention
The cost of not acting is higher (lives, safety, delayed response, harm to families)
This is not optional—it’s essential public safety infrastructure
Why written testimony matters especially in Ways & Means-Written testimony helps:

Counter the idea that this is a “nice-to-have” instead of a must-have
Show that the fiscal investment has real community backing
Create a public record that support is coming from actual constituents—not automated clicks
Bottom line- Ways & Means is where the question becomes:
“Are we willing to invest in this?”

And the answer needs to be a loud, documented YES—from the community, survivors, families, advocates, and leaders.

Why This Matters: In Washington State the African American community now has the highest rate of missing people despite being on 4.4% of the population. The Ebony Alert initiative is a critical step toward increasing visibility, improving response, and ensuring resources are mobilized quickly when our loved ones go missing.

This hearing is just the beginning, and continued pressure and presence are essential to getting this bill passed into law.

Please continue sharing this information widely with your networks.
Please be sure to Sign up for email updates so you can track the bill’s movement through the legislative process.

Thank you all for your continued care for our community.

 Please remember that this is an urgent time sensitive matter so please act now and sign up to testify or provide written comment or choose "PRO" to state your position

 

Getting email notifications allows you to track the bill and any changes to the schedule. Please be sure to do this as soon as possible.

This is a time sensitive matter and after a year and a half of hard work getting this to legislation, we want to ensure that this bill passes. 

We need your voice and support now more than ever!

 
  WHY THIS MATTERS
Recent data in Washington State shows that the African American community now has the highest rate of missing persons, surpassing all other demographics.

The Ebony Alert is a crucial, life-saving tool designed to address this disparity and improve the support, visibility, and recovery of missing persons in our communities.

SB 6070: Supporting the Recovery of Missing Persons:

Creates the Ebony Alert system
Creates the Purple Alert for individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and severe mental illness
Expands the definition of “missing endangered persons”
Strengthens tools law enforcement can use to help locate missing individuals
This bill exists because our communities demanded to be seen, protected, and prioritized.

Our community deserves this. Our missing loved ones deserve this.

After over a year of hard work, this is just the beginning.

Please share this information with your networks!

Thank you for showing up, signing in support, sharing widely, and standing with us as we work to make Ebony Alert law.

With gratitude and determination,

The Silent Task Force and The Community

If you have any questions or want to learn more about joining the Ebony Alert Coalition, please contact us at admin@ebonyalertwashington.com

By signing this petition, you're not only standing up for those who need protection, but you're also advocating for a system that provides hope, comfort, and equity to families who too often face the pain of a missing loved one without the attention or urgency their case deserves.

Your signature is more than a symbol; it is a powerful action toward bringing much-needed change to legislation, ensuring that these lives are valued and protected. Please support us in making the Ebony Alert - sign the petition and share it within your community.

Together, we can create a future where no missing person is left behind, and no family has to wait in the dark for help.

Please do not make a donation to change.org at the end when you sign the petition. If you would like to make a donation, please donate directly to Ebony Alert Initiative Donations.

The Silent Task Force is a non-profit organization that supports women who have been impacted by sex trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. We write this petition with a heavy heart as we witness the insufficient media coverage and inadequate law enforcement resources when Black people go missing. 

WHAT IS EBONY ALERT WASHINGTON? 

📊 The Data is Clear and Urgent: From a recent study by the University of Wyoming and the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force, using data from the Washington State Patrol and Office of Financial Management from April 2024- January 2025:⚠️ The Black population has now surpassed the Indigenous community in reported missing persons cases statewide! Black individuals are now the most reported missing group in Washington State. Despite being only 4.4% of the population, we are 3.26 times more likely to go missing than individuals of other races.

The Ebony Alert is a new initiative introduced in Washington state to address the disparities in the way missing persons, particularly Black and Brown individuals, are treated by law enforcement and the media. The concept behind the Ebony Alert comes from the recognition that missing persons of color, particularly Black people, often receive less media coverage, fewer resources, and slower responses compared to missing persons from other racial or ethnic groups. The initiative seeks to remedy this by prioritizing these cases and providing more equitable attention to their recovery efforts. 

Please do not make a donation to change.org at the end when you sign the petition. If you would like to make a donation, please donate directly to Ebony Alert Initiative Donations.

The Silent Task Force is a non-profit organization that supports women who have been impacted by sex trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. We write this petition with a heavy heart as we witness the insufficient media coverage and inadequate law enforcement resources when Black people go missing. 

WHAT IS EBONY ALERT WASHINGTON? 

The Ebony Alert is a new initiative introduced in Washington state to address the disparities in the way missing persons, particularly Black and Brown individuals, are treated by law enforcement and the media. The concept behind the Ebony Alert comes from the recognition that missing persons of color, particularly Black people, often receive less media coverage, fewer resources, and slower responses compared to missing persons from other racial or ethnic groups. The initiative seeks to remedy this by prioritizing these cases and providing more equitable attention to their recovery efforts. 

THE WHY 

1. OVERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK PEOPLE IN MISSING PERSONS:  Although African Americans make up only 13% of the U.S. population, they account for more than 40% of those reported missing. 

2. DISPORPORTIONATE COVERAGE OF MISSING BLACK CHILDREN: 

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, nearly 40% of missing children are Black, despite Black children making up only about 14% of the child population. A study showed that only 7% of missing Black children are featured in the media compared to more extensive coverage for white children. 

3. UNDERREPORTED MISSING BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS: 

A significant number of missing Black women and girls are missing.

The Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force (MMAAW) report that in 2019 nationally between, 64,000-75,000 Black women and girls were missing.  As of November 2024, that number is estimated to be over 100,000, even though Black women and girls make up just 15% of the U.S. female population.

Factors like sex trafficking, domestic violence, and societal biases (e.g., the adultification of Black youth) contribute to their cases receiving less urgency or attention. Black women and girls are often seen as "runaways" or "involved in criminal activity," which leads to the misconception that they are not in danger.

4. DISPARTITES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MEDIA REPRESENTATION ACROSS RACIAL GROUPS: 

Black missing persons cases are frequently given less priority by law enforcement and are not reported as widely in the media. This is due to systemic racism, where Black victims are less likely to be viewed as deserving of urgent attention.

The phenomenon of "Missing White Woman Syndrome" a phrase coined by Gwen Ifill, a television newscaster and journalist, to describe the media feeding frenzy when attractive looking, middle class-white women suddenly disappear, highlights how white missing persons, especially women, receive disproportionate media coverage, while missing people of color often go unnoticed. 

Key elements of the Ebony Alert system include: 

1. Priority and visibility: Ensuring that missing Black individuals receive top priority in both law enforcement efforts and media coverage.
2. Racial Equity: Aiming to combat racial disparities in the way missing persons cases are handled, recognizing that racial biases often affect how quickly and thoroughly cases involving people of color are investigated
3.  Community Driven- The Ebony Alert System emphasizes collaboration with community groups, local organizations and grassroots efforts to ensure that resources and support are provided.
4. The longstanding systemic issues in the way missing persons cases are managed, with a focus on creating a more inclusive and equitable process that values the safety and recovery of all individuals regardless of their race.

THE EBONY ALERT PETITION

By signing this petition, you're not only standing up for those who need protection, but you're also advocating for a system that provides hope, comfort, and equity to families who too often face the pain of a missing loved one without the attention or urgency their case deserves.

The Ebony Alert is an essential step toward ensuring that Black and Brown individuals receive the same level of care, urgency, and media visibility as everyone else when they go missing. 

This initiative is about justice, equality, and community. It's about coming together to make our neighborhoods safer and more responsive.

We urgently need this alert system not only to protect the vulnerable from vanishing without a trace but to provide resources, hope and comfort to friends and family members in despair when their loved ones go missing. It is imperative that we take the initiative to better our community and come together in collaboration for The Ebony Alert to bring to legislation.

Your signature is more than a symbol; it is a powerful action toward bringing much-needed change to legislation, ensuring that these lives are valued and protected. Please support us in making the Ebony Alert - sign the petition and share it within your community.

Together, we can create a future where no missing person is left behind, and no family has to wait in the dark for help.

Thank you for your support! 

DONATE TO EBONY ALERT WASHINGTON 

If you would like to donate, please DO NOT donate to change.org to increase views of the petition. We do not receive that money that can be used to go directly to supporting this initiative.

Ebony Alert donations

If you choose to donate your generous donation directly supports the development and expansion of the Ebony Alert system in Washington. Contributions are used to fund the creation and maintenance of the alert app, database, and website, ensuring that missing Black and Brown individuals receive the urgent attention they deserve. Donations also help produce print materials, support community outreach, legislative advocacy, and provide essential resources for affected families. 

By donating, you’re helping to build a stronger, more responsive system that amplifies awareness, fosters community engagement, and ensures families in crisis have the support they need. Your contribution is vital in making the Ebony Alert a lasting, impactful initiative for all. 

**Please do not make a donation to change.org at the end when you sign the petition. If you would like to make a donation, please donate directly to Ebony Alert Donations.

If you have any questions, please contact the Ebony Alert Coalition at admin@ebonyalertwashington.com. Thank you.