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About 500 Attend Vigil for Missing, Killed Indigenous Women

Many speakers at the Native American-led event said they hoped state lawmakers would pass Hanna's Act

By Associated Press

MISSOULA — About 500 demonstrators attended a vigil on behalf of missing and murdered indigenous women at the University of Montana on Saturday.

The Missoulian reports they walked in silence holding candles. Then they stood in drizzle for hours as they listened to women from throughout Montana speak about long searches for missing women and lack of help from police.

Many speakers at the Native American-led event said they hoped state lawmakers would pass Hanna’s Act, legislation named for Hanna Harris, who was found dead in 2013 on the Northern Cheyenne reservation. It would allow the Montana Department of Justice to help with all missing persons investigations.

Paula Castro-Stopps, the mother of Henny Scott, who was found dead on the Northern Cheyenne reservation last month, was among those who spoke in favor of the legislation.