Despite the disproportionate instances of missing Black children and women and the relative lack of attention to their cases, some people have already criticized or mocked the new Ebony Alert system on social media.

Some people who support the cause of highlighting missing Black women and children think the new system will be counterproductive. “An ‘Ebony-Alert’ to differentiate missing Black youth from everyone else when all we asked was that the same measures to find us are increased using the Amber-Alert,” tweeted one skeptic. “Please don’t do this.”

An “Ebony-Alert” to differentiate missing Black youth from everyone else when all we asked was that the same measures to find us are increased using the Amber-Alert. Please don’t do this. https://t.co/hXX4JwqsBV

— Britt Banks (@britttbanks) October 10, 2023

Others on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, accused the new system of itself being racist.

“A child is a child no matter what color. California needs to stop pushing this race agenda,” tweeted a critic of the new law.

A child is a child no matter what color. California needs to stop pushing this race agenda.

— Marie Keegan (2) (@keylimegirl323) October 11, 2023

“The “Ebony Alert” is literally legalized racism,” tweeted another individual.

The "Ebony Alert" is literally legalized racism.

— Craig Chamberlin (@CraigChamberlin) October 11, 2023

Despite these misgivings, advocates of the Ebony Alert system hope that it will lessen racial disparities in how California responds to vulnerable missing people of color. Hopefully, the new system will not only bring more attention to these cases but also actually save lives.

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