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May 5 Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Posted in

https://esther-foxvalley.org/

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2021

Oshkosh Bridge Lights Turn Red on May 5th to Honor
Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Oshkosh, Wisconsin - Bridge lights across the city will turn red at dusk on Wednesday, May 5 to commemorate the Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This local and national day of action serves to draw attention to the underreported and disproportionate rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls. All community members are invited to a vigil and lighting ceremony at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, May 5, at Riverside Park in Oshkosh. The event will also be live-streamed via the ESTHER Facebook page

Too long our communities have been silent about the high incidence of violence against indigenous peoples, especially women, girls, and two-spirit people. In 2016, the National Crime Information Center reported nearly 6,000 cases of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, yet the U.S. Department of Justice was tracking only about 100 cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women between 10 and 24 years of age and the fifth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age.

At the April 27 Oshkosh Common Council meeting, Mayor Lori Palmeri  proclaimed May 5, 2021, as a

“Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” in Oshkosh and encouraged all citizens to work to support and resolve to act to prevent further victimization. Similar resolutions have been proclaimed in the cities of Menasha and Green Bay and the counties of Brown, Menominee, and Shawano. 

This year’s efforts in Oshkosh are being organized by ESTHER and Waking Women’s Healing Institute. To learn more, visit the ESTHER webpage (esther-foxvalley.org) or the Waking Women’s Healing Institute webpage (https://www.wakingwomenhealingint.org/)

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