ALBUQUERQUE -- A national task force assembled by U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder is in New Mexico to gather testimony on the epidemic of children's exposure to violence in rural and Native American communities.

They're hosting Tuesday a day-long public meeting in Albuquerque as part of the U.S. Justice Department's Defending Childhood initiative.

In a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20 percent of New Mexico youth reported they were bullied on school property and almost 10 percent experienced dating violence. Nearly 16 percent considered attempting suicide during the 12 months before the survey.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales of New Mexico says the state is proud of its Native American heritage and that protection of children from its rural and tribal communities has come to the forefront.




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