The stories of missing Black women are always chilling to read. Oftentimes, their stories go untold or unsolved. Now, Minnesota has decided to officially take action with its first Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls.
A Voice For Missing Black Women and Girls
These efforts originally began in 2021 with a task force led by Lakisha Lee. Lee’s family, like many Black families, has dealt with the tragedy of a a missing Black woman’s case that was not given the attention it deserved. Over a decade ago, Lee’s sister, Brittany Clardy went missing when she was 18. About two weeks later, Clardy was found murdered in the trunk of her car despite her family alerting police almost immediately when they realized something was wrong. Lee says that the police could have done a better job of taking the matter seriously, but didn’t.
“We knew something was wrong right away,” Lee told NPR. “After they asked us her age and asked us about her demographics, they said, ‘Well, she just turned 18, she probably ran away with her boyfriend.’ We knew her. We’re the experts on our family.”
Lee wants to make sure other missing Black women’s cases do not fly under the radar like Clardy’s. Her task force was created through legislation backed by Democratic State Rep. Ruth Richardson and a team of volunteers. A report issued by the task force in 2022, noted that although Black women make up 7% of the state’s population, they also make up 40% of the state’s domestic violence victims.
A Better Tomorrow
The findings from the task force have impacted not only the state of Minnesota but surrounding communities as well. States like Illinois and Wisconsin have also implemented task forces similar to Minnesota’s. But now, Minnesota has taken it a step further by becoming the first state to create the nation’s first Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls.
The Legislature is set to spend nearly $2.5 million over the next two years on the effort. $300,000 will be used each year for community-based organization grants. $948,000 will be allocated to establish and operate the Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls. $50,000 would be used each year for public awareness campaigns about the office.
Lee says that she hopes these efforts spark change.
“We can work towards a community intervention model that really serves all families for generations so that the office doesn’t have to be a forever office,” she shared. “We can end this epidemic.”