Report: Indigenous women and girls face violence epidemic

Dec 17, 20200

Anthony Souffle, Star Tribune count

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wore a mask during a press conference in July. "For far too long, Native women have been, at best, invisible, and at worst, disposable," she said in a statement Tuesday, Dec. 15, as the state released new research about an an epidemic of violence affecting Indigenous women and girls.

Indigenous women and girls face an epidemic of violence and are far more likely than other groups in Minnesota to be murdered or to go missing, according to new state research.

Along with higher rates of homicide, American Indian women and girls make up about 15% of female missing persons cases every month despite being less than 1% of the state's population.

"For far too long, Native women have been, at best, invisible, and at worst, disposable," Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said in a statement. "As Native women and girls experienced violence, went missing, or were murdered at disproportionate rates, too often, the cases and root causes went unexamined."

https://www.startribune.com/report-indigenous-women-and-girls-face-violence-epidemic/573403371/