Gov. Stein says May 5 is Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Awareness Day
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that May 5 is a day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women on Monday.
The intention for the day is to raise awareness of those affected by the disproportionate rate of American Indian and Alaskan Native women who have gone missing or have been murdered. American Indians are a group of people who face some of the highest rates of violent crime in the country. In 60 years North Carolina has had approximately 106 missing and murdered cases of American Indians, 57% of those cases involve women and girls.
'Today we honor the lives of the Native American women and girls who have been taken from us too soon and pray that those who are missing return safely soon,' said Governor Josh Stein. 'It is tragic that this group experiences a disproportionate level of violence, and I am committed to a North Carolina where all are safe.'
North Carolina has the highest population of American Indians east of the Mississippi. There are eight recognized tribes here including the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and the Waccamaw-Siouan.
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