{"id":2960,"date":"2020-10-14T09:34:19","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T14:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=2960"},"modified":"2020-10-14T09:36:58","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T14:36:58","slug":"navajo-nation-urges-citizens-to-complete-2020-census-as-count-comes-to-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/14\/navajo-nation-urges-citizens-to-complete-2020-census-as-count-comes-to-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Navajo Nation urges citizens to complete 2020 Census as count comes to end"},"content":{"rendered":"\"census2020\"\r\n
A U.S. Census Bureau worker on the Navajo Nation. Photo: Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
Navajo Nation leaders express disappointment with U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ends the 2020 Census count<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, October 14, 2020<\/div>\r\n
Source: Navajo Nation\r\nOffice of the President and Vice President<\/div>\r\n
opvp.navajo-nsn.gov<\/a><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWINDOW ROCK, Arizona \u2013 Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer expressed disappointment with Tuesday\u2019s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which allows the U.S. Census Bureau to end the 2020 census count and stop data collection across the country. While it is unclear when the Census Bureau will officially end the collection of Census data, the Nation\u2019s leaders continue to urge all members of the Navajo Nation to immediately complete the 2020 Census online at 2020census.gov<\/a> or by calling (844) 330-2020.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cI\u2019m very disappointed in the Supreme Court\u2019s failure to acknowledge the federal government\u2019s responsibility to accurately count the Navajo people and many other tribal nations. It\u2019s disheartening that the highest court of the land ignored the devastating impacts that COVID-19 has had on the Navajo Nation and the census count. The Navajo Nation fought to the very end and never let up. Despite this setback, we will continue to move forward with strength just as our ancestors did long ago. We urge all members of the Navajo Nation to complete the census online or by phone before the Census Bureau ends the collection of census data,\u201d said President Nez, while also thanking the Navajo Nation Department of Justice for their dedication and commitment to the case.\r\n

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<\/P>\r\nTuesday\u2019s ruling overturns previous rulings from lower courts that directed the Census Bureau to continue the 2020 census count until Oct. 31, 2020, which was the original deadline set until the Census Bureau suddenly announced that it would shorten the timeframe for census data collection in August.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cI commend our Nation\u2019s attorneys and all of the co-plaintiffs for standing our ground all the way to the highest court in our country. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on this year\u2019s census count and once again, we will be undercounted even more so due to the pandemic and today\u2019s ruling. It\u2019s disheartening that the Supreme Court ruled as it did, but we have to remain strong and keep moving forward for our children, elders, and many others,\u201d Vice President Lizer stated. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe Navajo Nation officially joined the lawsuit on Sept. 1, 2020, against the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce based on the adoption of an illegally expedited plan, known as the \u201cReplan,\u201d which shortened the time to complete data collection for the 2020 Census by imposing a new deadline of Sept. 30, 2020. The Navajo Nation and other plaintiffs contend that federal defendants illegally curtailed time to complete the 2020 census, threatening to cause a significant undercount of minority populations, including members of the Navajo Nation.\r\n

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