In the first three months of this year, the District of Columbia logged 501 cases of missing juveniles, many of them were Black or Latino. As of March 22, twenty-two of these cases are still unsolved. Many are wondering why these cases haven't received the news attention that could likely help in the safe locating or return of these children, many of them young girls. Then, last night 14 girls were reported missing within a 24 hour period.
Social media.
>#missingdcgirls I've been tweeting about this for a week... This is UNACCEPTABLE.. pic.twitter.com/YibZkTvzZK
— ❤ AminahNicole" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> (@_BarBroad_) March 24, 2017
" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> (@_BarBroad_) 
The Petition
Black members of Congress are calling for the Justice Department, led by our newly appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey to “devote the resources necessary to determine whether these developments are an anomaly or whether they are indicative of an underlying trend that must be addressed.” [caption id="attachment_703519" align="aligncenter" width="420"]
Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]
There's Nothing Unusual About These Numbers
While over 500 missing children seems like some type of horror, officials say that these numbers are not unusual. According to police data, the number of missing child cases actually dropped in the area from 2,433 in 2015 to 2,242 in 2016. The difference is law enforcement has been posting on social media more often so the public are more aware about the number of children who go missing every year. [caption id="attachment_820947" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]
Social issues abuse and violence on women. Depressed girl sad african american young woman crying at home. Abused and scared wife[/caption]
Can't focus on the numbers.
Derrica Wilson, the co-founder of Black and Missing says that the fact that the numbers are holding steady is not a reason for us to relax or return to business as usual. She told the International Business Times, “We can’t focus on the numbers. If we have one missing child, that’s too many.”
The Map
NBC has released an interactive map, listing the last known locations of the missing girls. You can view the map and the information within it, here.One mother spoke on #MissingDCGirls, after her own daughter ran away but came back. #fox5dc STORY: https://t.co/CcBB5adZZ9 pic.twitter.com/iPWt8UUyrM
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) March 24, 2017
Runaway vs. Missing.
A lot of people seem to believe too many authorities are regarding these cases as runaways and aren't taking them seriously.14 Girls in One Night?
There is a bit of misinformation being spread around the internet, according to NBC News. The news outlet reports that at no point in recent weeks have 14 girls gone missing in a single night in recent weeks.The Missing
Missing Person: Anjel Burl, 16, last seen 3/22 in 200 block of 43rd Rd., NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson
https://t.co/1KrT8TPeQi">pic.twitter.com/1KrT8TPeQi — DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 24, 2017Critical Missing: Demetria Carthens, 17, last seen 2/7 in 200 block of I St, SE. Last seen wearing thin blue coat, black jeans and boots. pic.twitter.com/L812Fm5JxO
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 23, 2017
Missing Person: Katherine Hunter, 17, last seen 3/21/17 in 100 block of Mississippi Ave, SE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/pSPU8XKzPt
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 22, 2017
Missing Person: Winter Griffin, last seen 3/21 in 1400 blk Kearney St, NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/MJoGJUiVhm
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 22, 2017
Missing Person: Shaniah Boyd, last seen 3/18 in 4000 blk 6th St, SE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/aEs5cZXFZu
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 22, 2017
Missing Person: Chareah Payne, last seen 3/17 in 4700 blk 1st St, SE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/zXidwGomXs
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 21, 2017
Have you seen her? 15 yo Keyara Edwards last seen 3500 b/o Jay St, NE. Text 50411/ call 202-727-9099 #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/nABY98oM3q
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 20, 2017
Critical Missing: Dayana Paz, 14, last seen 3/16 in the 3800 block of 5th St, NW. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/VA59K4MkWX
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 17, 2017
Critical Missing:15 year old Juliana Otero, last seen 3/3 in the 3500 blk 11th St, NW. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/LQ3aStzQYt
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 12, 2017
Critical Missing:13 year old Taylor Innis, last seen 3/10/17 in the 4700 blk 5th St, NW. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/t210Ad70P0
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 11, 2017
Critical Missing:15 year old Jacqueline Lassey, last seen 3/10/17 in the 1200 blk Morse St, NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/8JVp6LaDgR
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 11, 2017
Critical Missing: Yahshaiyah Enoch, 13 years old, last seen 3/8/17 in the 5000 blk of Kimi Gray Court, SE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/9O7BomREiC
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 10, 2017
Critical Missing: Dashann Trikia Wallace, 15, last seen 3/8/17 in 200 blk of I St, SE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/U4Hmts0w4C
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 9, 2017
Critical Missing: Aniya McNeil, last seen 3/8 in the 1100 block of New Jersey Ave, NW. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/WVpWICgBlx
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 9, 2017
Critical Missing: Talisha Coles, 16, last seen 3/7/17 in 1000 blk of Maryland Ave, NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/94l5h1dFND
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 8, 2017
Critical Missing: Dayanna White, 15, last seen 3/3/17 in 100 blk Ivanhoe St, SW. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/NNhCEpiu3x
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 8, 2017
Critical Missing: 15-y-o Morgan Richardson, last seen 3/6 in the 1900 blk Mass Ave., SE. Have info? Call 202-727-9099. #missingperson pic.twitter.com/mqTRIoQywg
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 7, 2017
Critical Missing: Gladys Keitt, 18, last seen 3/2 in the 200 blk of Randolph Place, NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #missingperson pic.twitter.com/OGMaZwUNce
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 5, 2017
Critical Missing: 12 yo Taliyah Thomas. Last seen Unit blk Forrester St, SW on 2/28. Have info? Call 202-727-1099. pic.twitter.com/Hj8lXBa3pM
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 2, 2017
Critical Missing: 16 yo Esi Morgan Tyree. Last seen 1500 blk Anacostia Ave, NE on 2/27. Seen her? Call 202-727-1099. pic.twitter.com/ftG2N4DeQ0
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 28, 2017
CRITICAL MISSING: Seyauna Parker, last seen 1300 b/o Saratoga Ave NE. Call 202-727-9099/ text 50411 pic.twitter.com/IO55lSywLn
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 25, 2017
Missing person 14 y/o Daveshia Hockaday, B/F, 5’2” 105 lbs med comp brn eyes dark brn hair dark blue jeans blue jacket and blk & wht shoes pic.twitter.com/Rx1gGZDINi
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 23, 2017
Missing Person 15 y/o Shaquan Scott, B/F, 5’4” 140 lbs, brn eyes, blk, shoulder length dreadlocks, tan pants, blk hoodie, blue Nike shoes. pic.twitter.com/z9NIsNblP7
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 23, 2017
CRITICAL MISSING: Miyonna Davis, 15 yrs. Last seen 2/16, in the 1700 blk of S St, SE. Have info? Call 202-727-9099. pic.twitter.com/N3UISf5Hz3
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 23, 2017
CRITICAL MISSING: Jenifer Martinez, 17 yrs. Last seen 2/7/17 in 4600 blk of Georgia Ave, NW. 4'8" tall, khaki pants and purple North Face. pic.twitter.com/hYgYZ73nw1
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 22, 2017
Missing Person 11 y/o Torri Marie Gibson B/F med comp 4’ 11” 70-80 lbs, brn eyes, brn hair, braces w/ blue bands, no clothing description pic.twitter.com/ikwsL4dkYu
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 19, 2017
Critical Missing: Amanda Jones, 16 YOA, last seen on 2/8/17 in 2400 blk of Pomeroy Rd, SE. B/F, nose ring and dark complexion. pic.twitter.com/CnPYLeFOtY
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 9, 2017
Critical Missing: Chasity Smith, 16 YOA, last seen 2/8/17 in 300 blk of 51st St, NE. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/zziVHViLbT
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 9, 2017
Critical Missing Person 16 y/o Unique Lucas B/F, 5’7”, 125 lbs, dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair, green coat. pic.twitter.com/In4hlemwav
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 3, 2017
Critical Missing: Heaven Shamte, 15 YOA, L/S 3000 b/o 30th St, SE on 2/2. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/DFNR1O5Sil
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 3, 2017
Critical Missing: Chasity Smith, 16 YOA, L/S in 300 b/o 51 St, NE on 1/27. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099. #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/sO1RzV1bUB
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 3, 2017
Critical Missing: Emerald Shaw, 15 YOA, L/S in 700 b/o M St, SE on 1/10. Seen her? Call 202-727-9099 pic.twitter.com/BQHvVJ3aFc
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 3, 2017
Critical Missing: Faith Nelson, 16 yo, last seen Jan 13th, 3500 b/o Minnesota Ave SE. Call 202-727-9099 or text 50411 pic.twitter.com/EsPmoN0R3v
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 1, 2017
The post Find Our Girls: Things You Need To Know About The Missing DC Girls appeared first on MadameNoire.