Newark Mourns For Slain Daughter Of Anti-Violence Activist

NEWARK, NJ — What happened to Sanaa Amenhotep? Why did the police search for her take so long to come together? And what can be done to prevent future tragedies involving missing children? These are some of the questions that continue to haunt the late teen’s family and friends in the wake of her heartbreaking slaying in South Carolina last week.

On Thursday, the Newark community will gather to say goodbye to Amenhotep, 15, the daughter of iconic anti-violence activist, Sharif Amenhotep. A memorial event is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. at Unterman Field, the stadium of Weequahic High School, located at 329 Chancellor Avenue.

Amenhotep, a former Newark resident who moved to Columbia, South Carolina with her mother, was reported missing in early April. According to police, three teens who she knew allegedly lured her into a stolen car, abducted her and shot her multiple times.

Ever since she was a child, Amenhotep knew what it meant to be an anti-violence activist. She grew up with a front-row seat to many local rallies, including events held by the Newark AntiViolence Coalition (NAVC), where her father was considered a legend. As a student at Weequahic High School, she also absorbed lessons from another iconic activist in the group, her teacher, Bashir Akinyele.

Now, the 15-year-old’s death has many of her friends and family demanding change.

After learning about his daughter’s disappearance, Sharif Amenhotep – the field marshal for the New Black Panther Party – immediately went to South Carolina to launch a “people’s search and rally effort,” advocates with the NAVC said.

The effort to find Amenhotep soon saw a swell of additional support, including the national team of the New Black Panther Party out of Texas, the church community of her mother, Saleemah Graham-Flemming, and several members of the NAVC, who traveled from New Jersey to lend aid.

The search ended on April 28, when her body was found in a wooded area in Leesville, South Carolina.

“Just as tragic, it has also been learned that their initial efforts were initially met with hostility and indifference from local authorities, contrary to earlier reports,” the NAVC alleged in a statement Tuesday.

“However, it was the persistence of this joint community effort that ultimately prodded law enforcement officials to become more actively engaged with their technical resources,” the group added.

Other advocate groups, including Mixed Sistaz United, One Common Cause Community Justice Coalition, Vision Walkers and Black Lives Matter SC, also questioned the initial efforts of police investigators.

Advocates with the NAVC said there are currently thousands of missing children in South Carolina, and Amenhotep’s case should raise awareness about the need for change.

For her part, Graham-Flemming is pushing for a new law – named after her daughter – that would compel law enforcement agencies to respond more aggressively when a child goes missing and their loved ones suspect abduction.

“Sanaa’s parents and all those supporting community forces want the national attention that this case received to provide a blueprint for proper response to the disappearance of children,” the NAVC stated.

“Just as the question of Black women being killed by the police is underreported and responded to, the same is painfully true of missing teens in our community,” NAVC media advocate Zayid Muhammad said.

“Missing teens in our community overwhelmingly means missing Black daughters,” Muhammad added.

15 year old Sanaa Amenhotep aka "NaNa” should be alive today. Sending love and and light to all of her family and friends as they journey through this difficult season. Protect our girls #SayHerName #Sanaa #RIP #SanaaAmenhotep #ProtectBlackGirls #Justice4Sanaa pic.twitter.com/dS85T69e9z
— A’Dorian Murray-Thomas Newark Public School Board (@ADorian4Newark) May 3, 2021

Others in the city have also mourned Amenhotep and demanded “justice” in her name.

“On behalf of the people of Newark, I would like to express my sincere condolences to Sharif Malik Amenhotep, on the tragic loss of his beautiful and intelligent black daughter, Sanaa Amenhotep, who was kidnapped and murdered in South Carolina,” Mayor Ras Baraka said after learning of the teen's death last week.

“Mr. Amenhotep works tirelessly to increase justice and reduce violence in our neighborhoods through our Brick City Peace Collective, helping us to re-imagine public safety and prevent tragedies such as this from taking place in our very own community,” Baraka stated.

The mayor said he hopes South Carolina authorities “can bring the suspects in this case to justice,” and added that the entire city is joining with the Amenhotep family in their grief and pain.

“No parent should ever have to bury their child,” Baraka said.

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