Office of Justice Programs to Host National Convening on the Epidemic of Missing or Murdered Black Women and Girls
WASHINGTON – The Office of Justice Programs will hold a national convening focused on the crisis of missing or murdered Black women and girls on Tuesday, November 12, in Washington, D.C.
Black women and girls are disproportionately represented among missing persons in the United States, and Black women experience higher rates of homicide than women of any other racial or ethnic group. The epidemic of missing or murdered Black women and girls in the United States is a deeply concerning, and often underrecognized, issue.
This event will bring together family members, survivors, law enforcement, advocates, journalists, state leaders, and federal officials to raise awareness of the issue, learn from state-led action, and encourage a more robust and coordinated response to the epidemic of missing and murdered Black women and girls.
What: A Discussion on Missing or Murdered Black Women and Girls
Who:
- Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General, Department of Justice
- Brent J. Cohen, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs
- Melissa Murray, Professor, New York University Law School
- Laura Coates, Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst, CNN
- Natalie Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO, Black & Missing Foundation, Inc.
- Channyn Lynne Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Brave Space Alliance
- Shakyra Diaz, Chief of Shared Safety, Alliance for Safety & Justice
- Steven Bradford, California State Senator
- Ruth Richardson, former Minnesota State Representative
When: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
Where:
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
OJP Event Space, 5th Floor
999 North Capitol Street, NE
Washington, D.C.
Media Attendance: Credentialed media interested in attending this meeting must RSVP to [email protected] and register at the registration webpage no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, Thursday, November 7, 2024. All media attending the event must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license) and valid media credentials. Media should plan to arrive between 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. to clear security in time for the event. This is an in-person convening that will not be livestreamed.
Read the handout: Programs and Resources for Law Enforcement, Families, and Communities Addressing Missing or Murdered Black Women and Girls
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking or SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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