Elizabeth Smart Demands 'Justice' For Missing Black Women: ‘These Facts Are Disgusting’

Elizabeth Smart is receiving praise after sharing a lengthy Instagram post calling for justice in the cases of missing black women in America.

On Monday, Smart revealed she wanted to address a “very important and serious” matter on the first day of Black History Month. The 33-year-old shared a photo of herself on a missing person’s flyer.

“More than 64,000 missing black women and girls in the United States. Black women and girls make up more than 10% of the total missing population,” she captioned the post.

“For every black woman who reports sexual assault, at least 15 do not. 35% of black women experience sexual assault in their lifetime. 40-60% of black women report being coerced into sexual contact before they are 18! Personally, these facts are disgusting and disturbing to the extreme!”

Smart noted that her kidnapping received more attention than the cases of missing Black women. Learning about the lack of attention minorities receive in missing person cases prompted Smart to demand change and fair treatment for victims, no matter their skin color.

“As I have traveled and advocated, presented, met with survivors and victims, and heard their stories I know this: every person who is kidnapped, raped, or assaulted deserves attention, support, love, and justice,” she wrote.

“As human beings, I know we can do better, I know we have the capacity to see beyond skin color, ethnicity, economic status, or personal history. Nobody asks or deserves to be raped, nobody asks or deserves to be kidnapped, nobody asks or deserves to be hurt.”

The child safety activist went on to encourage the development of communities for victims to feel “safe and supported.”

Smart was 14 years old when she was kidnapped on June 4, 2002, from her Salt Lake City home by Brian David Mitchell. Smart was held captive for nine months and sexually assaulted by her kidnapper.

Smart was eventually found and Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison in 2010. His wife, Wanda Barzee, received 15 years for her part in the kidnapping.