California Introduces 'Ebony Alert' to Locate Missing Black Children
California State Sen. Steven Bradford Advocates hail the 'Ebony Alert' system as a pivotal move to address the crisis of missing Black children. In a groundbreaking move, California has enacted the "Ebony Alert" law, marking the first of its kind in the nation to prioritize the search for missing Black youth. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 673 into law on Sunday, solidifying California's position as the pioneer state in establishing an alert notification system, akin to the Amber Alert, designed to address the pressing issue of missing Black children and young women. Scheduled to go into effect on January 1, the law empowers the California Highway Patrol to trigger the Ebony Alert upon the request of local law enforcement whenever a Black youth goes missing in the vicinity. The Ebony Alert will leverage electronic highway signs and encourage the use of radio, TV, social media, and other communication channels to disseminate information about the missi