"As a mother, I'm extremely frustrated," said Franciene Black.
Police and the FBI say Andrew Joshua Tafoya disappeared with the 15-year-old girl into Mexico seven months after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex with her.
Authorities suspect Tafoya used a stolen car when he left with Chioma Gray on Dec. 13. Tafoya is charged with child stealing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, vehicle theft and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Black criticized Ventura police for failing to issue an Amber Alert when her daughter disappeared. One of the girl's brothers, and her father, Desm
ond Gray, dropped the Buena High School student off at the Ventura school Dec. 13.But Sgt. Jack Richards, a spokesman for Ventura police, said it would not have been appropriate to issue an Amber Alert. For starters, investigators do not think Gray was abducted but rather that she voluntarily left with Tafoya. Moreover, Gray was not "in immediate danger of death" when she disappeared, Richards said.
It is difficult to believe that a 15-year old white girl would go missing from her school without an amber alert. I think that Chioma Gray was discounted by law enforcement officials because she was a Black young girl. What say u?
12 comments:
They never do isue them, and nancy grace and th other dame on fox dont crry black women until the dead. dont get me strted folk
Bro. Stephens - Sadly, you speak the truth on this issue. That is why Black bloggers need to beat our own drums when a youngster in our community is missing like Chioma Gray...
i agree with you both and say that in addition to beating drums, those of us that are decent must stand against those that will exploit the dysfunction of our community and prey on our women and children.
if we don't send the message within our own community can we really expect anyone else to? certain segments of our population have been very consistent with their disregard for our lives, safety, and well being.
in all truth, in the black community---molesting little boys=bad. big stigma.
little girls=she was fast and we don't want a black man to go to jail. stop snitching.
we must set non-negotiable standards in the black community. it seems to me that the biggest culprits are misogynistic so the voices will need to be male.
with all due respect,
focusedpurpose
I so agree with you on this. Had this been a white girl, she would have been splashed all over the media by now. It just goes to show that our children and women are not valued in this country. It's just disgusting all around. I will pray for her safe return.
FocusedPurpose - It begins with each of us. We must do what we can do ... where we are. I have 3 youngsters. It starts with me doing my best for these three. I have a blog. I need to use my blog to share information such as this with my blog readers ("villager"). I'm not sure if I agree with you that it must begin with the Black man ... but, I accept my role in the process...
TheIcon - Let's each do our part to ensure that we protect our own children...
She left voluntarily? Oh please! She's a 15 year-old MINOR and the circumstances of her departure should not be left to the subjective interpretation of the Ventura police.
This is a shame Villager. I think I spoke too much on this issue. It's beyond words for me at this point. It went from being about a sex felon kidnapping a 15 year old child to being about a young lady who voluntarily ran away to be with her "boyfriend".
I don't know what to say Villager.
Los Angelesita & Deidra - Our responsibility is to ensure that Chioma's kidnapping isn't forgotten. We share it with our blog readers and we keep her and her family in our prayers. That is what we can do...
I firmly believe that if it had been a while girl it would not have matter to them if she left voluntarily or not. She was underage and that was all that should have matter.
Mr. Villager-
african people are communal by culture and custom. all children belong to the village. i am a mother and fully accept that all children that come into my space are...my children. i treat them accordingly.
the fact that we have lost this practice and refuse to hold black men, collectively, responsible for anything is at the root of the mess we see today.
white folks, the media, the police, etc. are consistent. if we are to see change, we will need to join forces---male and female---to make it happen. misogynistic males don't listen to women. the men must stand up and speak on behalf of the children that they did not personally make if we are to have a fighting chance at turning this around.
it doesn't feel good. it is however the truth. it truly does take a village to raise a child. and if the child is not yours personally and is therefore fair game for sexual exploitation...we got problems. WE GOT PROBLEMS!
i am not here to make friends. i am here to make a change. learn to listen to the voices of black women. it may not be what you want to hear. it just may be what you need to hear. i am one of the ones that has not given up...hear me! and act! now!
with all due respect and love---
focusedpurpose
don't know why that registered as "anonymous"...i am not hiding.
nevertheless, hear me! please.
blessings!
focusedpurpose
2SweetNSaxy - Amen!
Focused Purpose - No problem with your premise that we must all look out for our children *and* we must all hold ourselves as Blackmen responsible for our actions ... including the results of our sexual activity...
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