"Okay, now that the Navajo Nation Council has thrown some gas on a small, smoldering fire in Farmington, N.M., by considering boycotting the border town, according to the Gallup Independent (No Oprah! story), the stakes get a little higher.

This week promises to be an interesting one in the Four Corners. We should know by early this week, however, which way the wind will blow on this one. If the communities around Farmington (Shiprock, Kirtland, etc.) even care, than we should see some big meetings taking place. And I'm not talking about just 20-30 people - it should be in the hundreds. And not a chapter meeting either where they typically get large crowds in the first place. Large crowds will give us an indication of which way this will all go. Will it just be more rhetoric with politicians grandstanding about how they're gonna' fix this and that when this has the makings of a Rodney King-like-situation?"

Get the Story:
George Joe: Farmington, N.M.: Battle lines being drawn (George Joe of Rez Biz Magazine 6/26)

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

Civil Rights Commission Report:
The Farmington Report: Civil Rights for Native Americans 30 Years Later (November 2005)

Related Stories:
Three suspects arrested for attack on Navajo man (6/19)
Navajo man attacked by white males in Farmington (06/13)
Paper examines Indian race relations, civil rights (03/24)
Paper examines Indian race relations, civil rights (3/23)
Paper examines Indian race relations, civil rights (3/22)
Editorial: Race relations improving in Farmington (03/02)
Navajo race relations subject of Civil Rights report (3/1)
Navajos turn out for civil rights commission hearing (05/03)
Civil rights panel to hold hearing in Farmington (4/29)
Racism still a sore subject 30 years after murders (4/27)
Navajos see bias in New Mexico city's justice system (4/26)
Navajo homeless men claim assault by white youth (4/23)
Navajos recall discrimination by local businesses (4/22)
1974 murders of Navajo men stir strong feelings (4/21)