David John, a member of the Navajo Nation, is chair of the Community Relations Commission in Farmington, New Mexico.

John, 58, has owned a business in Farmington for more than 30 years. He hopes the commission can encourage more respect in a community that has seen more than its share of race-related controversies involving Navajos.

"Someday we might not need a Community Relations Commission — everybody respect one another as human beings," John tells The Farmington Daily Times.

Francis Mitchell, 63, also sits on the commission. He's a traditional medicine man who considers Farmington the most racist border town.

The city set up the commission after three young white men were charged with beating a Navajo man and after city police officers fatally shot a Navajo man.

Get the Story:
City ready to roll' against racism (The Farmington Daily Times 9/15)
What is the Community Relations Commission? (The Farmington Daily Times 9/15)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Hate crime against Navajo sends message (4/19)
Man gets seven years for beating of Navajo man (4/18)
Man faces sentencing for hate crime beating (4/17)
Hate crime suspect pleads guilty to beating (03/28)
Navajo Nation pressure cited in hate crimes case (3/22)
Trial for hate crime suspect in border town postponed (3/15)