Vigils are being held across Australia on Thursday to remember 5-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, who was allegedly murdered two weeks ago.
The child's body was found on April 30, five days after she disappeared from an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs. Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been charged with her murder, a crime that sparked riots in Alice Springs.
Candlelit gatherings are planned in the Northern Territory town and major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. The family has asked attendees to wear pink, Kumanjayi's favorite color.
Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill described the vigil as a space for channeling grief. The town's atmosphere remains subdued, with a growing tribute of flowers and toys outside the camp where the girl was last seen.
Three child protection workers have been suspended amid an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death.