The state of California is launching “Ebony Alerts” for black minority youths.
Minority children were already included in Amber Alerts.
The law is to go into effect on January 1, allowing the “California Highway Patrol to activate the alert upon request from local law enforcement when a Black youth goes missing in the area,” according to NBC News.
Black individuals between the ages of 12-25 will be included in the Ebony Alert.
“Data shows that Black and brown, our indigenous brothers and sisters, when they go missing there’s very rarely the type of media attention, let alone AMBER alerts and police resources that we see with our white counterparts,” said Senator Steven Bradford (D-CA).
The move has been widely criticized, with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeting, “Why do liberals LOVE to discriminate based on race? If an Hispanic kid or a White kid goes missing, CA won’t send out an alert?!? Here’s a crazy idea: Look for EVERY missing child, regardless of race!”
Why do liberals LOVE to discriminate based on race?
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 10, 2023
If an Hispanic kid or a White kid goes missing, CA won’t send out an alert?!?
Here’s a crazy idea: Look for EVERY missing child, regardless of race! https://t.co/Yu4oOjezyj
Not the Bee reported that “black kids ‘are usually classified as runaways, meaning they are reported missing after they ran away from home, but those kidnapped/in danger do get an Amber Alert.”
“That seems like a key piece of data! Is there maybe something we should look at regarding the home life of black households, perhaps the stability associated with a father present in the home, that may affect the behavior of these kids?”
