“Single digit temps did not deter lawmakers, tribal leaders and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Relatives advocates from marching from the Santa Fe Plaza to the Roundhouse on Indian Day in support of two bills moving through the New Mexico Legislature.
If passed, Senate Bills 12 and 13 would help families of missing and murdered loved ones by codifying coordination between law enforcement agencies, improve data collection, education and training, and set a platform for information sharing, said rally organizer Arlinda Deschene.
“We cannot continue to exempt our responsibility as lawmakers to go another day without addressing our missing and murdered not being accounted for in this state,” said the bills’ co-sponsor Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-McKinley-San Juan.
Pinto expressed appreciation for participants who travelled at their own expense to speak to the importance of locating and seeking justice for missing and murdered relatives.”
