Friday is recognized as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
And the Gila River Indian Community marked this solemn occasion with an annual gathering of its own — which was organized by its tribal victim services and police departments. But not a single one of the Valley tribe’s sitting leaders showed up in solidarity.
A sea of red shirts worn by families and loved ones filled a room inside the Gila River Police Department. But their own elected officials were notably absent, with attendees claiming not a single one turned out for that emotional Thursday night.
That includes 17 council members, the outgoing Lt. Gov. Regina Antone and the incumbent Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, who is seeking out a fourth consecutive term on Election Day.
But his general election challenger, former Lt. Gov. Monica Antone and long-time MMIP advocate, was present. So too, was candidate Amanda Mitchell, who is vying to become the tribe’s next lieutenant governor.
Her November opponent, James De La Rosa, wasn’t supposedly there either.
Outside the police station, Joanna “Jo-Jo” Mattia with the Akimel O’odham Crime Victim Families Support Group sounded off. Her 26-year-old son, John K. Lewis, was fatally shot by an ice cream vendor driving through the reservation in 2018.
“It’s more intense now, because year after year after year after year — nothing has happened,” said Mattia. “They tell us what we want to hear and then they let us go — year after year after year after year. Where’s the justice?”
As for Gov. Lewis, he was unable to attend the observance due to being “out of town,” according to a statement to KJZZ. Lately, the Gila River Indian Community — just south of Phoenix — has been grappling with an unignorable problem.
A youth curfew meant to curb crime remained in effect for more than a year.
As a seemingly last resort, the tribal council even pledged to draft a first-of-its-kind proposal for Arizona: an ordinance allowing the tribe to banish its own members who are convicted of committing violent crimes.
To date, that legislation remains undrafted.
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