Thursday, November 18, 2021

Merrick Garland Says U.S. has FAILED on #MMIW

From the Tribal Nations Summit

Attorney General Merrick Garland acknowledges that Department of Justice has "failed to meet the crisis of #MMIW."

“We acknowledge that our country has historically failed to meet the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous people with the urgency and resources it demands. We also recognize that solving this crisis requires that we work in partnership with one another.”

Well said General.  Let's keep the issue on the front burner.

The Trump Administration addressed this with Operation Lady Justice:

President Trump's Executive Order established the Operation Lady Justice Task Force, a multi-agency effort co-chaired by Secretary Bernhardt and U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr. Its purpose is to enhance the operation of the criminal justice system and address the staggering number of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Natives in Tribal communities.
“Today’s opening of the first Missing and Murdered Native Americans Cold Case office demonstrates the commitment of the Operation Lady Justice Task Force to achieving the mandate set out for it under President Trump’s executive order,” said Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Sweeney. “Cold cases in Indian Country will be addressed with determination and the understanding that the victims in these cases will be accorded some measure of dignity and compassion – not only for them, but for their survivors, as well.”
The Cold Case Task Forces are in accordance with the President’s Executive Order and will be staffed with law enforcement personnel and newly appointed special agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS), along with personnel from other Operation Lady Justice Task Force partners including tribal law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Offices of the U.S. Attorneys.

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