Wisconsin Renews Push for Black Women Task Force

Wisconsin lawmakers, led by Rep. Shelia Stubbs, are renewing efforts to establish a state task force focused on missing and murdered African American women and girls, following previous attempts that stalled in the Senate despite bipartisan support in the Assembly. The proposed 17-member task force would include law enforcement, legal experts, survivors, and advocates, and seeks to investigate systemic causes, improve data collection, and recommend measures to reduce violence and support victims’ families. The 2024 murder of Sade Robinson has brought renewed urgency, with her mother, Sheena Scarbrough, advocating for the bill and highlighting resource gaps for affected families. A Columbia University study found that in 2020, Black women in Wisconsin were 20 times more likely to be murdered than white women, the nation’s highest disparity. While some opponents argue for broader victim inclusion, supporters emphasize the disproportionate risk faced by Black women. The bill is now awaiting committee hearings in both legislative chambers.