The Judiciary and Public Safety budget bill was passed in the early morning hours of June 30 by the Minnesota Legislature. The bill included funding to create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office and funding for the Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force.
Following the vote, Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL-New Brighton) released the following statement:
“Based on the findings and recommendations of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force, we pressed the Legislature to form a MMIR office here in Minnesota – to continue the commitment of addressing the historical violence and systemic negligence of Native women and communities across this state, urban and rural. Today that is a reality – Minnesota has taken the next critical step to support the national MMU’s (Missing and Murdered Unit) work and being a force multiplier to prevent and bring an end to this pandemic of violence.
“The work we did on the MMIW Task Force was a critical first step in understanding the issue of violence against women in Minnesota. The creation of the new Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force will investigate the causes of violence against African American women and girls, then provide recommendations to ensure safe, healthy communities throughout our state. Our Black communities, now more than ever, need the support in working towards justice.”
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