Race relations between Anglos and the Navajo in Farmington, N.M., is in a rugged place again, and a horrific swastika-branding event is to blame. Three white males unleashed a savage attack against a mentally impaired 22-year-old Navajo man, writes the Associated Press. Specifically, the attack involved branding the image of a swastika into the Navajo man’s arm with a warmed coat hanger. This might give authorities the first chance to test the nation’s expanded hate crime legislations.
Additional harm besides Swastika-branding
According to Farmington authorities, the horrifying swastika-branding wasn’t all the 3 men did to their victim. They also used markers to write various messages on the Navajo man’s body, including "KKK," "White Power," a pentagram and a graphic depiction of a penis. Evidently the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act didn't stop the 3 males from offending. If convicted, the offenders could go to prison for 10 years. If kidnapping could be proved to have been involved in the swastika-branding event by the government then the sentence might be life.
All because hate crime law changes took place
Initially, one would have to have been in a federally protected activity like voting or attending school in order for the U.S. law on hate crimes to apply to the victim. Recent adjustments, thanks to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (Matthew Shepard Act for short), have eliminated that requirement, and the Farmington swastika-branding event is the 1st case to be heard after the adjustments. Violence due to gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity are now not lawful to do. The civil rights of individuals are protected.
Starting a relationships pact
Starting a relationship between the Farmington leaders and the Navajo Nation was a pledge which was signed. It was signed at Farmington City Hall just this month. The predominantly white city of Farmington has a decades-old history of conflict with the Navajo.
Duane "Chili" Yazzie spoke as the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission Chairman. He said that education is the only way to stop the violence. Based on Farmington Mayor Tommy Roberts, the climate of race relationships could be altered with a lot of time even though "there will always people who just don't get it.".
Citations
Star Tribune
startribune.com/nation/110996299.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKUzyaP37D_ncyD_2yckUr
Media coverage when the swastika-branding first occurred
youtube.com/watch?v=MSrML53oY9w
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