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Action Alert: Join #JusticeForKaysera Campaign to Help Demand Justice for Kaysera Stops Pretty Places

"ID: Light teal blue background with image of Kaysera Stops Pretty Places in center with text ‘Demand Justice’ above and ‘#JusticeforKaysera’ hashtag along bottom red border, with logo of NIWRC and Rising Hearts on left and right side."
ID: Light teal blue background with image of Kaysera Stops Pretty Places in center with text ‘Demand Justice’ above and ‘#JusticeforKaysera’ hashtag along bottom red border, with logos of NIWRC and Rising Hearts on left and right side.

In August 2019, 18-year-old Kaysera Stops Pretty Places was murdered in Big Horn County, Montana. Two years have passed since her murder, and the FBI, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montana Department of Justice have done nothing to undertake a criminal investigation. This miscarriage of justice cannot stand. Law enforcement must be held accountable so we can finally bring #JusticeForKaysera.

Kaysera’s family, in collaboration with the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Sovereign Bodies Institute, Rising Hearts, Elite Feats, and Bethany Yellowtail, will be hosting events in Kaysera’s name beginning on August 24, the day Kaysera went missing, through August 29 (the day her body was found), and ending on September 11, the day Kaysera’s family was notified her body had been found. Please join us in the fight to bring #JusticeforKaysera.

Individuals can support the family’s fight for justice by showing up in person at a rally or vigil held in Kaysera’s honor. For individuals who cannot be in Hardin, or have concerns about appearing in public due to COVID-19, there are several ways in which individuals can show their support digitally, no matter where they are. For instance, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is hosting two Twitter storms, where individuals can speak up and demand justice for Kaysera online, on Twitter. Also, the Sovereign Bodies Institute is hosting two livestream discussions that will focus on the crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Woman and Girls in Montana and across the United States.

The family also encourages individuals to send letters or any form of written communication to the elected and appointed leaders in both the Montana and United States governments who have failed Kaysera. Two years is inexcusable. Both the federal government and the United States have had every opportunity to undertake a legitimate criminal investigation, and they have failed to do so. Below is a list of events that individuals can participate in.

“This month of events marks the third year we have held calls to action demanding Justice for Kaysera. We have had to organize and advocate for ourselves in our ongoing fight to hold law enforcement accountable to investigate Kaysera’s murder,” states Dr. Grace Bulltail, Kaysera’s aunt.

“No family should ever have to wait this long,” states Mary Kathryn Nagle, attorney for Kaysera’s family. “Her murder isn’t being investigated not because there are no suspects or because there hasn’t been any evidence. Instead, her murder isn’t being investigated because as Americans, we have failed to hold our elected and appointed governmental officials responsible for their abdication of their own duties and responsibilities. Please join the family in demanding that officials in the Big Horn County, Montana, and the federal government do their jobs and investigate Kaysera’s murder.”

“I want to thank all of the supporters and organizations who have stood by us as we fight to bring my granddaughter justice. We will continue to fight for Kaysera until law enforcement and Montana State officials do their jobs and investigate her murder. Please continue your support and stand with us as we hold them accountable,” states Yolanda Fraser, Kaysera’s grandmother and legal guardian.

Please also sign the petition demanding #JusticeForKaysera, which can be found here.

#JusticeForKaysera Schedule of Events:

  • August 24: A vigil will held by the Family in Hardin at Mitchell Ave. & Rangeview Dr. at 6pm MST. All are welcome, but if you attend in person please wear a mask and observe social distancing.
  • August 25: Facebook Virtual Discussion-Background & updates on Kaysera’s case with Family and Andie Sweeden at 11am MDT. This virtual discussion will be livestreamed on the Justice for Kaysera Facebook page.
  • August 26: Facebook Virtual Discussion-MMIW/MMIP Task Forces and Community Organizing, ft. Kristin Welch of Waking Women’s Institute at 11am MDT. This virtual discussion will be livestreamed on the Justice for Kaysera Facebook page.
  • August 27: #JusticeforKaysera Rally at Big Horn County Courthouse, 11:00am MDT
  • August 28: Facebook Virtual Discussion-Honoring Kaysera, ft. her friends & allies, 12:00pm MDT
  • August 29: Memorial & Closing Prayer with family in Hardin at Mitchell Ave. & Rangeview Dr., 9:00am MDT. This is the two year anniversary of when Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office learned Kaysera’s body was at the corner of Mitchell Avenue and Rangeview Drive, but the BHC Sheriff’s Office did not inform the family that Kaysera’s body had been found until September 11, 2019.
  • August 30: #JusticeforKaysera Twitter storm hosted by NIWRC, 1:00pm MST
  • August 31: Send a letter to Montana Attorney Andrew Knudsen, demanding they investigate Kaysera’s case. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 1: #JusticeforKaysera Facebook live hosted by Sovereign Bodies Institute. The timing of this event will soon be announced by SBI. Please check back on the Justice for Kaysera Facebook page for the exact timing. This discussion will be livestreamed and can be watched on the Justice for Kaysera Facebook page
  • September 2: Send a letter to Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence Big Hair. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 3: Send a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 4: Send a letter to Montana Governor Gianforte demanding the State investigate Kaysera’s case. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 5: Send a letter to Senator Tester. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 6: Send a letter to Senator Daines. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 7: Send a letter to Montana US Attorney’s Office. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 8: #JusticeforKaysera Facebook live hosted by Sovereign Bodies Institute. The timing of this event will soon be announced by SBI. Please check back on the Justice for Kaysera Facebook page for the exact timing. This discussion will be livestreamed and can be watched on the Justice for Kaysera Facebook page
  • September 9: #JusticeforKaysera Twitter storm hosted by NIWRC, 1:00pm MST
  • September 10: Send a letter to the FBI, demanding they investigate Kaysera’s case. Draft letters you can use and send will be uploaded and available for download here
  • September 11: #JusticeforKaysera Run at Crow Agency and virtual race hosted by Rising Hearts and Elite Feats.

“The goal of these events are first and foremost to honor the life and memory of my niece, Kaysera,” said Grace. “She would have been 19 just three short days ago, and those responsible for ending her life must be brought to justice. On this one year anniversary of her murder, my hope and prayer is that our call for justice for Kaysera will shed a light on the injustices that our Native families face not just in Big Horn County, but all across the United States.”

For more information, please visit JusticeForKaysera.org and PipestemLaw.com. Register for the #JusticeforKaysera Run in Hardin or virtual race here.