Black women are still amongst the highest victims of assault despite the decrease in violence, according to a new report.
Released by the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, the report found that, although Black women make up only 4.3% of the population in Los Angeles, they make up about 25% to 33% of the cases of violence in the city. When it came to missing persons cases, Black women were reported as accounting for approximately 28% of these cases.
The rate of homicide cases was even higher, as Black women made up nearly 33% of female homicide reports. Over the period of January 2011 to August 2022, 481 women were murdered in L.A.; 158 of these victims were Black, according to the report.
Despite these alarmingly high rates, the department reported that not enough attention is being placed on them. According to the report, media coverage of the violence against Black women is presented differently than when victims are not BIPOC. Media coverage is also not as frequent for Black women who are victims of violence.
“This report confirms what many of us have known for a long time: Black women and Latinas in Los Angeles suffer from a crisis of violence,” said Capri Maddox, the LA Civil Rights Executive Director, per a statement. “We will not let them suffer in silence. This data provides unequivocal proof of this crisis, and strategies for serving our women and girls.”
“You cannot unsee these numbers, and LA Civil Rights is grateful to Councilmembers Price and Harris-Dawson for giving us the opportunity to bring this issue to light,” she added.
Commissioned by the Council President Pro Tempore Curren Price and Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the report was conducted by the department following the death of 16-year-old Tioni Theus. In Jan. 2022, Theus was murdered in South Los Angeles. Her body was found by California Highway Patrol on the side of a freeway with a gunshot wound on her neck. Almost a year after her death, Theus’ murderer still hasn’t been found.
“Tioni Theus was viciously stolen from her family who are still seeking justice for her murder,” said Councilmember Curren Price in a statement. “Tragically, Black and Latina women across our city experience higher rates of violence with little attention to their pain. Today, we say ‘no more.”
“Though it cannot bring Tioni back, this report will help us protect more women and girls across Los Angeles,” she added.
