MADISON, WI – On June 25th, The Guardian published an article that examined the alarming rise in homicide rates among Black women in America. On this disturbing news, Representative Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“First and foremost I want to thank The Guardian reporters Lois Beckett and Abené Clayton for dedicating their time to this pressing issue, and for reaching out to my office. Without accurate reporting of this epidemic, we cannot begin to make our country a safer place for Black women.”
“In 2020, the homicide rate for Black women increased twice as much as that of white women. These killings were heavily fueled by the ever-increasing rate of gun violence, with firearms accounting for ¾ of Black women homicide deaths. The data is in, and it is clear that we have a problem. “
“In Wisconsin, that problem is even more pronounced. From 2019 to 2020, the homicide rate for Black women and girls doubled, jumping from 10.1 to 20.2 per 100,000. Black women and girls are not safe in Wisconsin, and we must do everything we can to address this ‘unspoken epidemic’”
“Last session, I introduced Assembly Bill 886, which would create a Taskforce on Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls. This task force is a common-sense way to research the root causes of this spike in violence, and create real solutions to protect our next generation of Black women and girls.”
“As a Black mother to a young Black girl, this epidemic is deeply personal. The future safety of our daughters, nieces, and cousins all depends on the actions we take today. We must work diligently to dismantle the status quo, and dedicate ourselves to equity.”
“We must make Wisconsin a safe place to live and work for everyone, but right now, Wisconsin is the worst place to raise a Black family. Assembly Bill 886 would dedicate resources to directly address the epidemic of Black femicide in our state. I am calling on my colleagues in the legislature, and our partners in the Wisconsin Department of Justice to join me in this effort to end the epidemic of violence impacting my community. Our current situation is unacceptable, and I will not rest until we see change.”
