Race relations between Anglos and the Navajo in Farmington, N.M., is in a rugged place again, and a horrifying swastika-branding incident is to blame. 3 young white men attacked a 22-year-old Navajo man who is mentally disabled, reports the Associated Press. They shaped a coat hanger into a swastika, warmed it on a stove and branded the symbol into the Navajo man’s arm. This may give authorities the 1st opportunity to test the nation’s broadened hate crime legislations.
Damage other than Swastika-branding happening
According to Farmington authorities, the horrific swastika-branding wasn’t all that the 3 men did to their victim. Marker was used to draw a picture of a penis on the Navajo man's body. They also wrote "KKK" and "White Power" on his body. Evidently the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act didn't stop the 3 men 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 incident by the govt then the sentence could possibly be life.
All because hate crime law changes took place
In its original form, United States legislations regarding hate crimes required the victim to be taking part in a federally protected activity for instance voting or attending school in order for hate crime charges to apply. There were adjustments in the law due to the Matthew Shepard Act, or the long version as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. In fact, since then, there have been no other crimes apart from this Farmington swastika-branding incident. The legislations now protects civil rights for instance gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Placing a relationships pact to the examination
Just this month, Farmington leaders and elders of the Navajo Nation met at Farmington City Hall to sign a historic pledge in which both sides promise to work toward bettering ethnic background relationships. The predominantly white city of Farmington has a decades-old history of conflict using the Navajo.
Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission Chairman Duane "Chili" Yazzie recognized that only through education will violence be quelled. Farmington Mayor Tommy Roberts said that while "there will always be people who just do not get it," the overall climate of ethnic background relations can change over time.
Info from
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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