“Most of these are runaways. They chose to leave.”
I have read comments like this one over and over ever since “the list” was posted. You probably remember “the list.” 40 missing Iowans in 10 days.
We have been told the numbers are normal. We have been told the numbers are steady.
I’m sorry but I don’t want to accept that a list this long is normal.
I don’t want to accept that two young people 50 miles apart vanished.
I don’t want to accept that dozens and dozens of children are running away from home.
I don’t want to accept that dozens and dozens of children are repeatedly running away from home.
I don’t want to accept that kids as young as 14-years-old are classified as people who “chose to leave.”
They are children.
If kids are running away then they are clearly screaming for help.
If kids are running away multiple times, then there’s a good chance they’re not in a happy, healthy or safe environment at home.
I want to live in a world where we say “this list is unacceptable…how can we change it? How can we make sure our kids are safe? How can we make sure every child has a happy, healthy and safe home?”
There is nothing normal about dozens and dozens of children out on the street somewhere. They’re at an insanely high risk of falling victim to a sinister crime.
Let’s come together and bring these children home.
All of the children.
They all matter.