Border town violence: Who is to blame?

Posted by Shondiin Silversmith | Feb 5, 2015 | Community |

Historian Jennifer Nez Denetdale shares the history of violence towards Native Americans in Gallup at a community forum attended by an estimated150 people.  (Special to the Times – Colleen Keane)

A young Native musician tells how he tired he is of being discriminated against and beaten up in Gallup during a forum about violence in the city. (Special to the Times – Colleen Keane)

GALLUP

City leaders came under severe criticism on Jan. 28 as community members gathered together to voice their concerns about the border town.

In a packed house, dozens of community members came together to talk about border town violence and specially violence within the city of Gallup.

“Gallup: a Border Town of Violence – Native Voices on Violence, Homelessness and Inequalities” was a community event held at the Hozho Center on 216 West Maloney in Gallup.

Guest speakers talked about the violence, homelessness and inequalities that face Native people.

Samantha Begay adds a name of the person she knew who died in Gallup of an unnatural death. Those who attended “Gallup: a Border Town of Violence – Native Voices on Violence, Homelessness and Inequalities” forum about violence towards Native Americans. (Special to the Times – Colleen Keane)

According to Jennifer Nez Denetdale, a professor at the University of New Mexico, people say Gallup’s alcohol problems is an “Indian problem,” and no responsibility for Gallup’s problem goes toward the number of liquor licenses in town.

The presentation of Denetdale, who was one of three guest speakers at the event, had to do with the history of violence and inequalities in the City of Gallup.