SALT LAKE CITY—This Tuesday, November 14th, at 1:00 pm, Senator David Hinkins (R-Senate District 26) and Representative Angela Romero (D-House District 25) will host a press conference in the Utah State Capitol Board Room to discuss the next steps of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Task Force and key findings outlined in a report that identifies best practices and strategies to address the murdered and missing indigenous relatives injustice in Utah.
Indigenous relatives in Utah face a disproportionately high risk of violence, murder, or disappearance, constituting over 5% of all murder victims despite making up only 1.5% of the population. To address this injustice, the Utah Legislature established the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force in 2020 (renamed from the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force in 2023). This task force aims to address MMIR issues by developing protocols, identifying best practices, and conducting community education.
In 2022, the Utah MMIR Task Force collaborated with Wilder Research, which subcontracted with Restoring Ancestral Winds and a retired FBI missing persons investigator. Together, they conducted a comprehensive study examining the extent and nature of MMIR injustice. The study involved interviews with key informants, stakeholder feedback, listening sessions with affected families and community members, an examination of existing legislation, and a review of relevant research literature.
WHEN:
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
WHERE:
Capitol Board Room
Utah State Capitol, Room 240
SPEAKERS:
Senator David Hinkins, Co-Chair Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force
Representative Angela Romero, Co-Chair Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force
MEDIA NOTES:
Individual interviews with speakers and task force members can take place immediately following the press conference. More information on the task force can be found here. The press conference will also be streamed on Instagram live here.
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