Omar, McCollum urge White House to create federal office for missing and murdered Black women and girls

Minnesota Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar and Betty McCollum are calling on the White House to create an Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls within the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Their call comes as Saturday marks what would have been the birthday of Britanny Clardy, a St. Paul woman who disappeared in 2013 and whose disappearance prompted Minnesota lawmakers to take a closer look at the disparities faced by Black women.

“This complex problem deserves a whole-of-government approach led by your administration to help all states protect and care for our most vulnerable communities. And there is strong precedent for similar actions,” Omar and McCollum said in a letter to President Joe Biden.

Omar had previously introduced the Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act in memory of Clardy. That bill was co-sponsored by every Democrat in Minnesota’s congressional delegation. However, the bill has remained in the Republican-controlled House since its introduction in December.

Clardy's disappearance led Minnesota lawmakers to create a task force to study why black women face higher rates of violence. State lawmakers later recognized these disparities and created one of the nation's first Offices of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls.

Former President Donald Trump already signed an executive order establishing the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.

On the heels of this initiative, Omar hopes she and McCollum can experience similar success with the Biden administration.

“Our hope is that it resonates with them, that they see the importance of it and that they're able to make sure that it's created and that it's implemented and that this work happens,” Omar said in an interview Friday.

The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on Omar and McCollum's request Friday. Omar said she hoped Vice President Kamala Harris would “think about it” and that the White House would support her.

“Creating a national office for missing and murdered Black women and girls within the U.S. Department of Justice would follow Minnesota’s lead at the state level,” McCollum said in a statement. “Every Black woman and girl in Minnesota and across America deserves to be safe — and when violence is perpetrated against them, they deserve the dignity of justice.”