CINCINNATI — This Native American heritage month, one group is using red dresses to highlight a serious problem, violence against Native women. 

What You Need To Know

  • Red dresses are hanging at 25 library locations across the Cincinnati area 

  • The red dresses represent missing and murdered Indigenous women

  • The dresses will be on display throughout November, Native American Heritage month

At first glance, it might seem random to see red dresses hanging from trees, but the dresses were purposely placed to make you stop and stare.  

It’s what Tabitha Moser did as she walked past the library near her apartment, and she found something else with it. 

“When I walked by I stopped and looked at the sign and I just think it’s a really cool way to draw people’s attention and bring awareness to it,” said Moser.

Each red dress was put here to represent an Indigenous woman who was murdered or missing. 

They’re hanging in or near 25 libraries across the Cincinnati area with signs explaining why red dresses.

“The traditional belief is red is the only color that spirits can see,” said Jheri Neri, Executive Director for the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition.

Neri helped put the dresses on display locally. 

“I think there’s a lot of native people who are personally touched by an aunt or a sister or multiple people who have been victims of this,” said Neri.

The idea of advocating for victims with red dresses came from a red dress art display. Now the red dresses have been seen across the country, highlighting the problem. 

“What’s alarming is there are more Native-American women per capita that are missing and murdered every day,” said Neri. 

That’s why he says he hopes to give Indigenous women a voice through this display while educating others who might not have known what it means.

The red dress display will be up at libraries across Cincinnati throughout November in honor of Native American heritage month.