According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children More than 64,000 Black women and girls are missing in the United States. In 2016 the Chicago Reader analyzed data from the Chicago Police Department which showed that nearly a quarter of the city's 838 open missing persons cases as of August 1 were black women between the ages of 11 and 21. That would be more than 200 missing Black women and girls.
Compounding the tragedy of going missing, is the overwhelming stereotypes and stigmas that label Black women/girls as runaways, drug addicts and sex workers unworthy of serious investigation or invesitgation. This is atrocious, especially when media coverage within the first 48 hours is key to solving missing persons cases.
Furthermore, other conversations around violence and violence prevention as a public health issue negate Black girls.
Compounding the tragedy of going missing, is the overwhelming stereotypes and stigmas that label Black women/girls as runaways, drug addicts and sex workers unworthy of serious investigation or invesitgation. This is atrocious, especially when media coverage within the first 48 hours is key to solving missing persons cases.
Furthermore, other conversations around violence and violence prevention as a public health issue negate Black girls.
“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.
— Malcolm X
The GLMPI Streets is Watching Project, supported by funding from Acclivus Inc, is a collaboration with celebrated muralist, Damon Reed for his Still Searching Project and Film. Through this mural and storytelling project GLMPI aims to amplify the cases of missing Black girls and women from Chicago.
GLMPI participants learned how gender violence impacts our communities, as well as ways to promote safety for Black girls. The murals will be a part of Damon’s Searching Project and Documentary film.
Not only do we call for the community to remember our missing girls, we demand protection for the girls still in our village. Everyone is accountable for the safe passage of women and girls. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect Black girls!
Streets is watching...Let’s find them!
GLMPI participants learned how gender violence impacts our communities, as well as ways to promote safety for Black girls. The murals will be a part of Damon’s Searching Project and Documentary film.
Not only do we call for the community to remember our missing girls, we demand protection for the girls still in our village. Everyone is accountable for the safe passage of women and girls. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect Black girls!
Streets is watching...Let’s find them!
Areall MurchinsonAccording to Chicago Police Areal was 16, when she was reported missing from the West Roseland area, in the vicinity of 200 West 111th Place. She was wearing black and white pajama shorts and a white halter top. Areall is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has been missing since February 2015.
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Lilliana BoydLilliana went missing on June 5, 2020 from Danville, Illinois. She is also known by her nickname Lilly.
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Mercedes CrumptonAccording to Chicago Police Mercedes was 13 when she went missing from the 800 block of South Keeler Avenue on June 26, 2020. She was wearing a black dress and black furry sandals.
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Lashayla SandersLashayla has been missing since March 31, 2020 from Belleville Illinois. She was 15 years of age at the time of her disappearance. Her height is 5'4" and Weight is 150 lbs
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Brenisha EdwardsAccording to the Chicago Police Brenisha was 13 years old when she was reported missing from the North Lawndale neighborhood on the city's West Side. Brenisha was last seen on April 1, 2015 near her home in the 1900-block of S. Albany. She's described as 5-foot-1, 120 lbs., and has brown eyes and black hair.
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Teandah SlaterAccording to the Chicago Police, Teandah was 15 when she went missing from the 1000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Noble Square on February 5, 2019. Teandah is described as 5-feet 4-inches tall weighing 115 pounds with brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black windbreaker, light blue ripped jeans and black gym shoes.
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Yasmin AcreeOn January 15, 2008, Yasmine disappeared from her home at 4842 W. Congress Parkway. Police originally labeled her as a runaway and did not launch an active investigation until community activists applied pressure. Recent developments have left family members connecting Yasmine to a dangerous predator.
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Kierra ColesOct. 2, 2018, Coles, who was 26 years old and about three months pregnant, vanished on Chicago's South Side. Her car was found in front of her apartment with her phone and packed lunch still inside. The Chicago Police Department considers the case "a high-risk missing person investigation with potential foul play suspected."
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Organizations and Resources
Legislation & Policy:
The RILYA Alert system
RILYA created to help spread awareness about the disproportionate amount of media attention that missing African American Children receive. This alert system helps to bridge this discrepancy by shortening the response time in which crucial information is shared with the public. It is transmitted to the public electronically, similar to the Amber Alert, but without their stringent criteria that can impede progress or immediate attention or action. The RIYLA Alert is not meant to replace the Amber Alert System. It simply bridges the gap where the Amber Alert excludes or does not engage due to program criteria.
Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act (Proposed Illinois House Bill 3932)
Co-sponsors State Representatives Justin Slaughter, Mary Flowers (Dist. )
Kambium Buckner (26th District) John M. Cabello (68th District) - Jehan Gordon-Booth 92nd District), Mary E. Flowers (31st District), Lindsey LaPointe (19th District), Joyce Mason (61st District), Justin Slaughter (27th District), Barbara Hernandez (83rd District) and former State Rep Jonathan "Yoni" Pizer (12th District)
RILYA created to help spread awareness about the disproportionate amount of media attention that missing African American Children receive. This alert system helps to bridge this discrepancy by shortening the response time in which crucial information is shared with the public. It is transmitted to the public electronically, similar to the Amber Alert, but without their stringent criteria that can impede progress or immediate attention or action. The RIYLA Alert is not meant to replace the Amber Alert System. It simply bridges the gap where the Amber Alert excludes or does not engage due to program criteria.
Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act (Proposed Illinois House Bill 3932)
Co-sponsors State Representatives Justin Slaughter, Mary Flowers (Dist. )
Kambium Buckner (26th District) John M. Cabello (68th District) - Jehan Gordon-Booth 92nd District), Mary E. Flowers (31st District), Lindsey LaPointe (19th District), Joyce Mason (61st District), Justin Slaughter (27th District), Barbara Hernandez (83rd District) and former State Rep Jonathan "Yoni" Pizer (12th District)
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Damon ReedAfter graduating from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Damon Lamar Reed began his career as an artist. To date, Reed has created 140 plus public art projects including: works for the Superbowl 46, works that can be seen in various documentaries and commercials, and works featured in books such as, Kym Pinders’, Painting the Gospel. He has become an authority in mural restoration, having repainted over 10 to date; including murals by Calvin Jones, Bill Walker and John Pittman Weber.
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Damon became the 1st artist to receive the “Gem of the Community” award from Archi-treasures for his ability to collaborate in a creative context. He was also honored at Voice of the Peoples(VOP) annual gala for his commitment to excellence. His public art work can be found in Illinois, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Tennessee and Louisiana. Damon is a true believer in the POWER of art and its ability to bring about change through its beauty.
His latest mural project Searching Project will be the subject of an upcoming documentary by director Latoya Flowers.
His latest mural project Searching Project will be the subject of an upcoming documentary by director Latoya Flowers.