From Ignored to Investigated: Missouri’s Plan to Protect Black Women

Missouri will launch the Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force on October 1, meeting monthly to examine cases, gather survivor and family testimony, and push to reopen neglected investigations. Championed by State Sen. Angela Mosley (D-Florissant) and modeled after a 2022 Minnesota initiative, the task force includes lawmakers, law enforcement, victim advocates, survivors, and families. Supporters cite data and lived experiences showing Black women and girls are disproportionately missing or murdered and receive less law-enforcement attention. Advocates such as Theda Wilson, who founded “Looking for an Angel” after her son’s 2003 disappearance, say victims are too often mislabeled as runaways, stalling urgent responses. The law, approved August 28, aims to correct systemic blind spots, improve data collection, and deliver accountability so families aren’t left to force action alone.

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Source: BET