South Carolina S 566: MMIW Red Dress Day

Bill Text

South Carolina General Assembly

126th Session, 2025-2026



S. 566



STATUS INFORMATION



Senate Resolution

Sponsors: Senators Devine and Matthews

Document Path: LC-0310SA-JN25.docx



Introduced in the Senate on April 15, 2025

Adopted by the Senate on April 24, 2025



Summary: MMIW Red Dress Day





HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS



	Date	Body	Action Description with journal page number	

	4/15/2025	Senate	Introduced (Senate Journal‑page 12)

	4/15/2025	Senate	Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services (Senate Journal‑page 12)

	4/22/2025	Senate	Recalled from Committee on Family and Veterans' Services (Senate Journal‑page 3)

	4/24/2025	Senate	Adopted (Senate Journal‑page 38)



View the latest  legislative information  at the website





VERSIONS OF THIS BILL



04/15/2025

























A senate RESOLUTION



TO DECLARE MAY 5, 2025, AS “MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN RED DRESS DAY” IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LOST, THOSE WHO ARE STILL MISSING, AND THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO CONTINUE TO SEEK JUSTICE.



Whereas, the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two‑Spirit people (MMIWG2S) is a national emergency, deeply affecting Native American communities across the United States, including in the State of South Carolina; and



Whereas, Indigenous women face some of the highest rates of violence, abduction, and murder, with cases too often going unsolved or underinvestigated due to systemic barriers, jurisdictional confusion, and a lack of public awareness; and



Whereas, May 5 has been recognized across North America as MMIW Red Dress Day, a day to honor and remember the lives lost to violence, to raise awareness of the MMIW crisis, and to advocate for justice, prevention, and healing; and



Whereas, the red dress has become a national symbol of the thousands of Indigenous women who are missing or murdered, and a visual call to action for communities, governments, and allies to confront this crisis; and



Whereas, citizens across South Carolina—Indigenous and non‑Indigenous—are called to stand together as one, wearing red, displaying red dresses, and participating in remembrance events on May 5 to show solidarity, elevate awareness, and support affected families; and



Whereas, the South Carolina Senate stands united with all federal tribe, state‑recognized tribes, tribal citizens, and Indigenous peoples residing in the great State of South Carolina in a shared commitment to bring visibility to the MMIW crisis, to end human trafficking, and to work collaboratively toward justice and healing; and



Whereas, this resolution marks the first formal recognition of MMIW Red Dress Day by the South Carolina Senate, signifying an historic step toward truth, solidarity, and meaningful action in the fight for Indigenous rights and protections; and



Whereas, the South Carolina Senate pledges to work with all Tribal Nations, advocates, state agencies, the Office of Attorney General, along with solicitors’ offices in human trafficking task force and community members to support initiatives addressing MMIW, human trafficking, and systemic injustice affecting Indigenous women and girls. Now, therefore,



Be it resolved by the Senate:



That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, declare May 5, 2025, as “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Red Dress Day” in South Carolina to honor those who have been lost, those who are still missing, and the families and communities who continue to seek justice.



Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to each of South Carolina’s federal tribes, state‑recognized tribes, tribal entities, the Governor, and the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs.

‑‑‑‑XX‑‑‑‑