Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons honored at Conn. capitol [Video]

“There is an overwhelming disparity that is rooted in discrimination,” said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

Officials say homicide is the third leading cause of death among Indigenous women, ages 10 to 24.

“We have the smallest percentage of a population in the US, but we have the largest crime rate,” explained Brenda Geer, vice chairwoman of the Eastern Pequot.

Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than other women and 16 times more likely to be killed or to disappear than white women.

In Connecticut, while Native Americans represent only half of 1% of the population, 83% of them were victims of crime in 2022. 

“The history of this country is deeply entwined with violence against indigenous people, and if we do …