SACRAMENTO – In recognition of May 5th as the 'National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP)', the California State Legislature is hosting a week of commemoration and awareness events. California, a state with one of the highest numbers of unresolved MMIP cases, aims to honor the victims and urge greater societal attention to this critical issue through these events.

The California Native American Legislative Caucus, led by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), will conduct the following key events at the State Capitol:

Tuesday, May 6th

5:30 PM: A blessing and remembrance ceremony will be held at the Native American Monument in Capitol Park, attended by Assemblymember Ramos, members of the Legislative Caucus, and tribal leaders. (Located on the L Street side, across from the Hyatt Regency Hotel)
The State Capitol dome will be illuminated in red, the MMIP awareness color, for two consecutive nights.

Wednesday, May 7th

8:45 AM - 9:15 AM: A press conference regarding the impact of Public Law 280 on California tribal safety will take place at the Native American Monument in Capitol Park, with participation from Caucus members, tribal leaders, MMIP victims, and advocates.
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM: The Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs will hold a hearing on Public Law 280.
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: The 'MMIP 2025 Annual Candlelight Vigil' will be held on the west steps of the State Capitol. Past events have drawn up to 800 attendees, with candles being lit as dusk falls.
The State Capitol dome will be illuminated in red for the second night.

Thursday, May 8th

9:00 AM: Assembly Resolution ACR 39, authored by Assemblymember Ramos, will be presented on the Assembly Floor. This resolution designates May as 'Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Month' and highlights legislative facts, including that homicide was the fifth leading cause of death for Native Americans in 2019. Furthermore, the FBI's 2023 'Missing American Indian and Alaska Native Persons Data Report' noted 10,650 missing person reports, of which 5,801 were women and 7,124 were minors.
Assemblymember Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribes, is the first Native American to be elected to the California State Assembly in approximately 175 years. He has demonstrated ongoing effort and dedication to addressing the MMIP issue.

This week of events at the State Capitol is anticipated to be a significant step in raising awareness about the severe MMIP crisis facing Native American communities within California and in the pursuit of justice for the murdered and the safe return of the missing. Moreover, discussions surrounding laws impacting tribal safety, such as Public Law 280, are expected to contribute to the exploration of practical solutions.

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