MADISON, WI – Yesterday, May 16, 2024, after gathering community advocates, victim families, representatives of nation organizations, law enforcement officers, and legislators in the Wisconsin State Capitol Assembly Parlor to bring awareness to the emergent crisis of missing people in Wisconsin, especially African American women and girls, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“My sincere thanks go out to all who were able to attend today’s press conference. I am especially grateful to our speakers: Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen, Senior Pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church and President of the African American Council of Churches; Greg Jones, President of the Dane County Chapter of the NAACP, First Vice President of the Wisconsin State Conference of Branches; Chief Dr. Shon Barnes, Madison Police Department; Madelyn Cobb, Policy and Government Affairs Manager, March for Our Lives; Dr. Erika Brown, Founder of OnTime Culture LLC, Director of Sade’s Voice Foundation Nonprofit, and Representative for the Sade Robinson Family; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Wisconsin Delegation Member Mrs. Kirbie Mack; Captain Shannon Blackamore, President of the Capitol City Chapter of  National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; Reverend David Hart, Esq. President of Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County; Calvin Lee, Legislative Affairs Division, spokesperson of  Milwaukee Common Council Ms. Tanesha Howard, mother of Joniah Walker; and Ms. Georgia Hill, mother of Lasheky Hill.  

Additionally, I would like to recognize Pastors, community advocates, organizations, legislators and community members for attending. Also, special thanks and recognition  to Community Justice Action Fund, Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, Minnesota State Senator Mary Kunesh, Antonia Drew Norton, Director of the Asha Project, Black Feminist Future, Wisconsin Catholic Conference, and constituent advocates of the 77th district, and community advocates for their generous letters of support and ongoing advocacy for this bill.

Yesterday, all these voices joined mine in emphasizing how critical the need for a task force for missing and murdered African American women and girls is in our state. It was a day of grief for those we have lost, but it was also a day of incredible power.

I am in disbelief that, over two years after I began the work of building and advocating for this necessary task force to investigate the root causes of violence against Black women and girls in our state, this bill has yet to become law.

I am heartbroken that, nearly every day we must hear of another missing or murdered person in our state. Meanwhile, nothing is being done to stop the disproportionate violence facing our African American women and children. As a state, we have been silent on this issue for far too long!

I am concerned that, despite this bill unanimously passing committee in both houses of this Legislature AND passing the Assembly floor this session, this bill has yet to be given a floor date in the Senate.
I am demanding that the Senate reconvene and give this bill, Assembly Bill 615/Senate Bill 568, a day to be heard on the floor and voted on.

The Senate must do its duty and come back into session, so that we can begin the critical work required of us by the people of this state who have missing and murdered loved ones.

This press conference was a call to action. I am asking that any person in the State of Wisconsin who has a missing relative contact my office and share your story with us. In fact, I will travel across the State of Wisconsin to meet with families whose loved ones are missing.

They deserve a chance to be their loved one’s voice. They deserve to have their stories told, either in one article or in as many as the press will cover. Their family members may be gone, but we will make sure they are not forgotten. We will say their names, and I will create legislation that supports these families and brings them justice and closure.”