6th Annual 'We Walk For Her' March
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION: LAURIE R. GLENN 773.704.7246 lrglenn@thinkincstrategy.com
MEDIA ADVISORY 6TH ANNUAL ‘WE WALK FOR HER’ MARCH CHICAGO YOUTH CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN MISSING WOMEN & GIRLS CASES
Chicago Ald. Jeanette Taylor Marches with Advocates for Safety & Well-being of Black/Brown Women & Girls
WHAT: The Kenwood Oakland Community Organization Girls Who Lead is organizing its 6th Annual "We Walk for Her" march to grapple with Chicago’s silent epidemic: the alarming number of missing and murdered Black and Brown women and girls on the South and West sides. In light of this crisis, the youths are calling for justice, awareness and change, emphasizing the critical importance of accountability and the failure to safeguard some of the city’s most vulnerable individuals. Through partnerships with other organizations, the marchers are demanding thorough investigations into the Chicago cases of at least 51 Black women, possibly murdered, who have been missing since 2001.
WHO: Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor (20th Ward) & Citywide Youth Leaders
WHEN & WHERE: March starts at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7 at 35th Street and Martin Luther King Drive
WHY: Black women and girls make up a disproportionate share of missing women and girls cases in both Chicago and the United States. In 2021, 89,020 (36 percent) of the 257,385 individuals reported missing were Black, with 73,395 (28.5 percent) being Black women aged 20 or younger. More than 35 percent of the missing persons reported by the Chicago Police in the past two decades were Black women and girls. According to the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children, of the 25,000 children reported missing to NCMEC who had run away, 1 in 6 were likely sex trafficking victims. The "We Walk for Her" march provides a voice for the victims, families and communities affected by missing and murdered Black women and girls.
Six years ago, 13-year-old Aziya Roberts expressed her concerns about the lack of attention given to missing Black and Brown girls in Chicago, inspiring the creation of the "We Walk for Her" march. Since then, the march has gained momentum, received media coverage, and attracted local leaders' attention. In 2022,[2] KOCO's youth leaders successfully advocated for increased funding to address the DNA evidence backlog, leading to the establishment of a statewide Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women.
The march is part of a year-round effort to raise awareness about the plight of missing Black women and girls. The event will demand accountability from city and state officials who have not done enough to address this issue. The Girls Who Lead team is committed to a comprehensive approach to address the systemic issue of missing Black and Brown women and girls. Their aim is to influence policy changes that prioritize safer laws and demonstrate zero tolerance for those who harm and abuse women and children.
ABOUT
The Kenwood Oakland Community Organization has been an instrument for grassroots democracy in the North Kenwood and Oakland communities since 1965. KOCO utilizes direct action community organizing as its primary methodology for change. Through the sustained engagement of low-income and working families, KOCO develops multi-generational leaders who impact decision-making processes and public policies, improving the quality of life in our local communities. For more information go to https://kocoonline.org/.