Monday, May 10, 2021

U.S. Attorney's Office Commemorates Missing And Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed a proclamation designating today, May 5, 2021, as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. The proclamation reaffirms our country’s commitment to solving missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases and addressing the underlying causes of these crimes, including sexual violence, violent crime, economic disparities, and substance use and addiction.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins our Tribal, state, local, and federal law enforcement partners in commemorating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, and taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of supporting Tribal crime victims.

“Native Americans, especially women and children, suffer from disproportionately high rates of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou. “Today, we reaffirm our commitment to finding the missing and seeking justice for the murdered. In partnership with the FBI, community organizations, and Tribal Nations, our District — one of the first in the country to recruit a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) program coordinator — has made strides in addressing the lack of data, lack of coordination, and jurisdictional gaps that caused many cases to go unsolved. Work remains to be done but, by working together, I believe we can end the MMIP crisis and bring some degree of peace to the families of missing and murdered Tribal victims.”

If you or someone you know has information about missing or murdered Indigenous persons in Nevada, please contact the FBI Las Vegas Field Office by calling (702) 385-1281, or by visiting tips.fbi.gov. If you have questions about the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP program, please contact MMIP program coordinator Tom Ross by calling (775) 784-5438.

 

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