Missing White Woman Syndrome

I wanted to publish this story. It's very sad and I hate publicizing stories like this, but I am so frustrated at the lack of national attention that people of color get. I picked up a "People" magazine with the face of a blond hair/blue eye young woman, that was tragically killed by her rich boyfriend, on the cover. I do believe her murder deserves publicity, but find it incredibly upsetting that so many women/people of color do not get this attention. For example the beautiful couple (below) have not been mentioned in any national media. What does that mean about the lives of people of color in our nation's eyes? What message does this send? I guess it's another example of what many call MWWS (click the link to read more about Missing White Woman Syndrome).

Jersey City couple slain after returning from their engagement party

By Jeff Diamant/The Star-Ledger

April 04, 2010, 8:51PM

Courtesy of the Muchioki family. A family photo of Michael Muchioki and Nia Haqq, who were both fatally shot early Sunday morning after returning to Jersey City from their engagement party.

JERSEY CITY -- Just hours after friends joyfully toasted them at their engagement party, a couple lay dead on a Jersey City street this morning, shot during what police said was a possible carjacking.

College sweethearts Michael Muchioki, 27, and Nia Haqq, 25, had planned to marry next April, those close to them said. On Saturday evening, the couple celebrated their engagement with friends and family at Delta’s, a soul food restaurant in New Brunswick, and then at a larger gathering at Perle, a club and lounge also in the Middlesex County city.

Afterward, a friend said, they begged off going to a diner, opting to return to Muchioki’s Jersey City apartment in Haqq’s Honda CRV. Police said the couple were shot around 3 a.m., a few doors from Muchioki’s home.

Today, as the news spread, their loved ones, shocked and devastated, arrived at Muchioki’s Randolph Avenue home. Many stood outside crying and hugging one another.

"My heart has been ripped out," said Muchioki’s mother, Sandra Muchioki. "We will celebrate him (Muchioki) for the rest of our lives."

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said the couple were found dead near Haqq’s vehicle. Each had been shot twice, each once in the head, he said.

Based on the crime scene and witness statements, authorities believe the couple were approached by three carjackers — a man and two women — after they parked, but that an anti-theft device prevented the car from being easily moved, DeFazio said.

He said the carjackers left the scene in a gold Pontiac Grand Am.

"These perpetrators have to be brought to justice," DeFazio said, "and we are looking for any help that we can get from anyone in the community that may have any information that is relevant to this outrageous homicidal activity."

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