News

Critics accuse panhandling campaign of racism

By Andrew Curley
Navajo Times

GALLUP, April 24, 2014

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(Times photo – Andrew Curley)

The “Change in My Heart, Not in My Pocket” program was initiated by white residents of the city of Gallup on May 1 and encourages city residents not to give money to panhandlers, who are mainly Navajo.


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In the late afternoon at the University of New Mexico-Gallup, the question of race and alcoholism hung in the air.

Navajos attending a meeting about a proposed "Change in My Heart, Not in My Pocket," program—initiated by white residents of the city—said that they felt this 90-day campaign targeting panhandlers was a direct attack on poor Navajo people who are seen on the streets suffering from alcoholism.

Beginning on May 1, this campaign encourages city residents not to give money to panhandlers, who are mainly Navajo.

But the organizers repeatedly dodged the question of race, referring to general claims that panhandlers could be of any background.

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