Hundreds gathered at a candlelight vigil to honor 14-year-old Emily Pike, an Indigenous teen who was found dead after going missing from her group home in Mesa, Arizona. Emily’s death has sparked outrage and calls for justice, highlighting the disproportionate rates of violence and disappearances among Indigenous women and girls. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs have joined the investigation into her death, but no suspects have been identified yet.
Family and friends described Emily as a sweet, smart, and kind girl who loved sparkly and colorful things. Her disappearance and death have struck a chord with the community, with many attending the vigil sharing their own experiences with the foster care system and expressing solidarity with Emily’s family.
The vigil served as a unifying message that Indigenous people will not be forgotten and brought visibility to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people. Attendees wore red as a tribute to the movement, and hashtags like #JusticeforEmilyPike and #SayHerName have gained traction on social media.
The leaked details about the condition of Emily’s body when she was found have caused outrage and heartbreak across the nation, prompting calls for justice and awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous people. Despite the somber occasion, the vigil ended with a message that Emily would not be forgotten, with attendees singing a song in her memory.
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