Nationwide — Authorities are seeking public assistance in locating a 14-year-old African American girl who has been missing for several months. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has issued an Ebony Alert for Kamara Green, who was last seen at 8 a.m. on May 14 near Auberry Drive and Power Inn Road in Elk Grove in Sacramento County, California. The alert was requested by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The Ebony Alert, distinct from the Amber Alert, is designed specifically to assist in locating missing Black girls and young women. California pioneered this alert system after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 673 into law. The Ebony Alert operates similarly to Amber and Silver alerts, aiming to address the disparities in how missing Black youth are classified and prioritized.
According to the Black and Missing Foundation, 38% of missing persons in the United States are Black. However, due to certain classifications, Amber Alerts are often not issued for Black youth, resulting in lower prioritization by police. The Ebony Alert seeks to rectify this by ensuring that missing Black girls and young women receive timely and appropriate attention.
To issue an Ebony Alert, specific criteria must be met. The missing person must be between 12 and 25 years old and meet at least one other condition, such as having a mental or physical disability, being in potential danger, or missing under suspicious circumstances. The reporting party must provide this information to law enforcement, which then forwards it to the CHP for alert issuance.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Kamara’s whereabouts to come forward. The public’s assistance is crucial in ensuring her safe recovery, highlighting the importance of the Ebony Alert system in addressing the unique challenges faced by missing Black girls and young women.
