Group calls attention to crisis of missing, murdered women of color

(The Center Square) – Community groups are asking Chicago officials to address the issue of missing and murdered Black and Brown women and girls in the city.

Tanisha Williams is an organizer at Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. Williams said this is a massive issue with Black and Brown women at the top of the list.

“For example, here in Chicago, we are only two percent of the population, yet we make up one-third of all missing and murdered cases,” Williams said.

Williams said more resources are needed in Chicago’s police districts.

“There should be some type of community liaison there to interact with families, when we talk about a lot of the dehumanizing approaches that they are approached with from investigators or CPD in general,” Williams said.

Williams said elected officials need to continue working with community groups on models that work.

Williams said Black people are affected.

“We are first impacted, but we are not the first with the central resource. So we’re first impacted and the last to be given care or concern around the issue,” Williams said.

Williams said the community can influence elected officials.

“If we can get together to continue to be on networks, to continue to be of one accord to say, ‘Find our girls. What’s happening with our girls?’ Then we can push elected officials to be more accountable,” Williams said.