Rep. Maxine Waters has asked the Justice Department to investigate the disappearance of Mitrice Richardson, a 25-year-old lesbian missing since September. The letter (pdf) is HERE.
On September 17, the California State-Fullerton graduate was arrested for not paying her $89 tab at a Malibu-area restaurant. At 12:30, she was released from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's station in Calabasas without her purse, cellphone or automobile, which was impounded. It was later revealed that Richardson was troubled and bi-polar.
"Mitrice’s civil rights were violated when she was arrested and then let go in the middle of the night without money, a phone, or transportation.The roads of Malibu are dark and dangerous at night, and since the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) later concluded that Mitrice appeared to be suffering from bipolar disorder that evening, I believe that the circumstances surrounding her disappearance warrant a thorough, federal investigation.”
This is Waters' second request for federal intervention. Waters' original letter to the FBI can be found HERE.
In the eight months since Richardson's disappearance, searches in canyons, hills and parts of western and southern Los Angeles have yielded no results.
Jasmyne Cannick has been extensively covering Richardson's disappearance and asks the very obvious question: What if Mitrice Richardson were white and from an affluent family or community? " Would the Sheriff’s Department have produced a video showing her exiting the station? Would unmanned drones have been sent in to look her right away instead of seven months later? Would Mitrice’s congressional representative have demanded the FBI get involved in finding her? Probably not."
Don't forget if she where straight.
If Richardson where straight and not a self-indetified lesbian, the "Black media" that whines about the likes of Nancy Grace and others caring only about White girls and White people would have expressed more empathy and "outrage".
Sorry readers, but I find it hypocritical to be angry at media for the lack of coverage of missing Black/Latino teens, when Black and Latino communities seem to do the same to LGBT of color. It's a disgusting testimony how low the lives of Black and Latinos who are LGBT matter to "our people" and larger society.
Imagine if she where trasngendered, too? Black, female and lesbian. Yep, you can sure bet they're looking for her....
Posted by: Account Deleted | 08 May 2010 at 18:34
Agreement and BRAVO @KevinPerez, you were on point in my opinion with this post man. I don't care much for a lot of what Cannick writes but I'd have to say I do believe she is on the target with this case because there are so many cases like this one with Mitrice involving missing black/latino men and women. I'm praying this young woman is still alive. But Perez I think you correctly showed how the Black and Latino communities can be with one of their own who just happens to be LGBT. Don't get me wrong I love my people but I cannot stand quiet when even they won't do right by their LGBT sons and daughters, even when we continue to stand by our straight brothers and sisters when our community at a whole is attacked in some shape of form.
Posted by: DT | 11 May 2010 at 23:16
Oh BTW thanks for posting this Rod and keeping us informed.
Posted by: DT | 11 May 2010 at 23:17