U.S. indigenous people raise awareness about missing, murdered Persons: AP

NEW YORK, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Indigenous people across North America are calling this week for sustained responses to the violence in their communities, much of it against women and girls, reported The Associated Press (AP) on Monday.

"In prayer walks, self-defense classes, marches and speeches at state capitols, they are pushing for better cooperation among law enforcement agencies to find missing people and solve homicides that are among about 4,300 open FBI cases this year," noted the report.

Some parents say they will use Monday's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day to make sure children understand what's at stake. Many young women are covering their mouths with bright red handprints, vowing to speak for those who have been silenced.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Indigenous women are more than twice as likely to be victims of homicide than the national average.