Rep. Shelia Stubbs Celebrates Unanimous Passage of Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Legislation from Senate Committee

MADISON, WI- After the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 568—Relating to: creating a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“This past Thursday marks a historic day for the State of Wisconsin. I am overjoyed to announce that my colleagues in the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families voted to pass Senate Bill 568—Relating to: creating a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls. I cannot overstate how grateful I am to each and every person and organization who has advocated for this bill’s passage.

First, I would like to thank my Senate lead and Chairman of the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families Jesse James for scheduling this bill for a hearing. I would additionally like to thank the members of the committee for voting unanimously to pass the bill. I also want to thank my coauthors Representative Michael Schraa and Senator LaTonya Johnson, as well as all legislators in the Assembly and the Senate who cosponsored this legislation.

This bill would not have achieved the success it has without the unwavering support of community members and organizations who have contributed letters of support and advocated for this legislation, including my mother, Mrs. Linda Hoskins, Ms. Georgia Hill, whose daughter Lasheky Hill went missing from Racine a year ago, Dr. Chief Shon Barnes of the Madison Police Department, Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, Minnesota Senator Mary Kunesh, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc–Wisconsin Delegation, Antonia Drew Norton of the Asha Project, Mariah Cooley of Community Justice Action Fund, the NAACP – Wisconsin State Conference, Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County, Inc, Wisconsin Catholic Conference, March for Our Lives, and Black Feminist Future.

The creation of this task force will allow us to not only examine the myriad factors that contribute to violence against African American women and girls, but to develop sound, workable solutions to address the crisis of missing and murdered people in our state. This bill’s passage out of committee further highlights the bipartisan support for this legislation, as well as the power of community advocacy.

It is our duty as legislators to advance policy that protects all the people of our state, especially those who are most vulnerable and at risk. The passage of SB 568 from committee is a serious victory, but there is more work to be done. I hope the Senate will see the importance of this legislation for empowering communities, improving public safety, and supporting law enforcement in their mission to defend our neighbors from harm.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.