A forum in Gallup, New Mexico, heard from Navajo tribal members who recounted decades of racism and discrimination in border towns.

Duane "Chili" Yazzie cited long-running problems in Farmington that culminated this summer with the shooting death of a Navajo man by police officers and the beating of a Navajo man by three white males. "Our relationship with Farmington has always been not very good," he said, The Gallup Independent reported.

A similar police incident occurred in Gallup more than 30 years ago. Larry Casuse, a Navajo man, was shot to death after he participated in the kidnapping of Gallup's mayor, who had ties to alcohol businesses that catered to Navajos.

Casuse's sister spoke at the forum. "He more or less took a stand to help the Navajos," Ursula Casuse-Carrillo said.

Della John, the mother of the Navajo man who was killed this summer, also spoke. She said she was upset that police described Clint John, 21, as intoxicated on the day he was shot to death, and that police say they were responding to a domestic violence incident.

Get the Story:
Border town racism subject of forum (The Gallup Independent 11/1)

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Navajo Nation Council - http://www.navajonationcouncil.org

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