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California’s First Ebony Alert Brings Missing Teen Home Safely

A groundbreaking statewide call resulted in the safe return of a missing teenager this week, just days after a new law enabling the alert system took effect. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued the state’s inaugural Ebony Alert on January 4th for a 17-year-old girl who had last been seen on December 30th in Los Angeles.

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) requested the alert, and a dedicated detective from the department located the teenager unharmed on January 5th, helping her return home safely. LBPD spokesperson Richard Mejia confirmed the successful outcome.

Introducing Ebony Alerts

Ebony Alerts are an emergency notification system similar to Amber and Silver alerts, but with a focus on searching for and safely returning missing Black children and young adults aged 12 to 25. The new law to establish the Ebony Alert system came into effect on January 1st.

State Senator Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, authored the bill last year to address the historical misrepresentation and neglect of missing individuals within this demographic. The prompt utilization of the tool after its implementation highlights its dire necessity, according to Bradford.

In a statement released on Friday, Bradford expressed his appreciation for law enforcement’s swift adoption of the new notification tool. He emphasized the disproportionate rates at which Black children and young women go missing and the need to provide them with equal attention and resources.

Mejia also acknowledged the effectiveness of community collaboration in promptly resolving cases like this. The public’s attentiveness to various alert systems plays a crucial role in the successful recovery of missing individuals.

How Ebony Alerts Work

Ebony Alerts utilize multiple channels to disseminate information quickly. Highway signs, cell phone alerts, and social media platforms all contribute to notifying the public. Similar to Amber Alerts, the CHP can send Ebony Alerts via wireless emergency messages to all cell phones within a specific area.

However, there were no widespread Ebony Alert messages blaring from people’s phones on Thursday. According to Bradford, the CHP has the discretion to determine how and where to issue alerts, and he plans to inquire about their decision-making process.

Addressing Disproportionate Missing Rates

Bradford cites clear data indicating that African Americans are disproportionately affected by missing person cases. He highlights the alarming statistic that although African Americans make up only 14% of the U.S. population, they account for 38% of reported missing children in the nation.

Amber Alerts, established in 1996, were born out of a tragic incident involving the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman. However, Bradford notes that Amber Alerts are rarely triggered when African American individuals go missing. By introducing Ebony Alerts, he hopes to rectify the lack of media attention and resources dedicated to missing Black people.

The new law aims to fill a significant gap in the system. While Amber Alerts cover individuals aged 17 and younger, Ebony Alerts extend the age range to include young adults between 12 and 25. Bradford emphasizes that Black young adults who may have been abducted often receive far less media attention than children. Furthermore, he explains that African American women and men are merely classified as “missing” if they disappear at 18 or older.

A Legal Loophole Addressed

Bradford highlights the issue of law enforcement classifying missing Black people aged 17 or younger as runaways. This classification can create a legal loophole that allows police to delay response and investigation time, according to the legislation that established Ebony Alerts.

Bradford shares numerous unaddressed cases that underscore the necessity of the law. He mentions a distressing incident in Palmdale a few years ago, where two African American brothers aged 5 or 6 disappeared for months without triggering an Amber Alert. Tragically, one of the boys was ultimately found dead.

Expanding Alert Systems

Similar to Feather Alerts for endangered Indigenous Americans and Silver Alerts for individuals over 65 with disabilities or cognitive impairment, Ebony Alerts target specific demographics. Bradford hopes that the success of California’s Ebony Alert system will lead to its expansion nationwide.

He emphasizes that public visibility can provide comfort to the families of victims, who have often felt overlooked in cases involving missing Black individuals. Bradford believes that this new law will reduce the anguish and pain experienced by families when their loved ones go missing.

Expressing his pride in California’s pioneering role, Bradford hopes that other states will follow suit in prioritizing the crisis of missing Black people. With the implementation of Ebony Alerts, California has taken a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of its Black population.

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