In 2022, nearly 141,000 Black youth were reported missing, accounting for over 35% of all missing individuals in that year. Tragically, these young people are far less likely to receive the media attention needed to bring them home safely compared to their white counterparts. While Amber Alerts have been instrumental in locating missing children, there remains a troubling pattern in which Black and Brown children are often portrayed as criminals or runaways in the media. This harmful stereotype results in fewer efforts to publicize their cases, making it much more difficult for these children to be found and returned to their families.

Currently, California is the only state to have enacted an Ebony Alert law, a system specifically designed to address this gap and help bring missing Black and Brown youth home. The success of this system in California demonstrates its effectiveness, and it’s time for Pennsylvania to follow suit and become the second state to implement this critical tool.

This bill proposes the creation of an Ebony Alert system in Pennsylvania, which would be dedicated to finding missing Black and Brown youth, including young women and girls. Similar to the Amber Alert system, an Ebony Alert would be managed by the Pennsylvania State Police and would be activated when specific criteria, such as age or mental or physical disability, are met. Importantly, the bill also includes penalties for anyone who intentionally or recklessly causes an Ebony Alert to be issued without cause, with violators subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000. Additionally, the bill would impose fees on those convicted of certain crimes to help fund the establishment and ongoing operation of the Ebony Alert system.

As elected officials, we must acknowledge the unique challenges and discrimination that Black and Brown families face, especially when a loved one goes missing. We have a responsibility to ensure that every Pennsylvanian—regardless of race—has the resources and protections they need. I urge you to support this long-overdue legislation, which will provide a much-needed tool to help protect our missing and endangered communities of color. Let’s take this critical step forward together.

Please join myself and Representative Kazeem in co-sponsoring this legislation.