The Women's Leadership Project, a Los Angeles-based organization that advocates for young people of color, held its second annual #Standing4BlackGirls event.
It was meant to amplify the voices of Black women along with sexual and domestic violence survivors.
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Organizers say Black women make up less than 15% of the U.S. population, but account for more than a third of all missing women. They say Black women are also more likely to become victims of gun violence committed by someone they know.
"When we say, 'Protect Black girls at all costs,' we're not guarding everybody else, we're saying that we matter too. Black females matter too," said Ashantee Polk with the Women's Leadership Project. "If you see a Black woman in danger, don't stand there. If you see something, say something."
Meanwhile, some speakers emphasized the importance of looking out for your mental health.
"I really want to create a safe space," said a speaker who works as a therapist. "A lot of lives have been taken here."
To learn more, visit the Women's Leadership Project's website.
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