I am writing this petition with a heavy heart, remembering my cousin Desiree “Desi” Frederick who was brutally stabbed to death on November 24, 2023 in Alexandria, Minnesota. Desi was an enrolled band member of the Sisseton-Wapheton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation. The assailant of her murder remains unknown. I currently reside in the state of Wisconsin, where there are no current license plates to honor the cause of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR). This is not just about Desi; it's about all Indigenous persons who have been victims of violence.

Wisconsin is home to 11 tribes of Indigenous people. Yet despite their significant presence, awareness around the issue of MMIR remains low. It's a shocking reality that 82% of American Indian and Alaska Native men and women reported experiences of violent victimization in their lifetime.

The creation of a special license plate dedicated to MMIR would serve as an everyday reminder for all Wisconsin residents about this ongoing crisis within our communities. It would help raise awareness and spark conversations that could lead to meaningful change.

We need your support now more than ever. By signing this petition, you're not just supporting the creation of a new license plate - you're standing up for justice and equality for all indigenous women across our state.

I am asking for at least 500 signatures from fellow Wisconsinites so we can bring light to this important cause together. Please sign this petition today – to honor all indigenous relatives that have been victims of violence, so no more indigenous relatives go missing or go murdered unnoticed or unremembered.