Broken Circle' families speak out against film

My heart ached in 74 for these people and families. And every time I recall those times my heart aches. If you lived here then you should still have the pain in your heart weather you are Native or Anglo for these families .

The family should have been consulted to portray the people as well as the incident. the individual lives needed to be depicted show who these men were . Not that they were some drunk which I have often heard people used referring to those 3 men murdered back then .

I wonder if its going to be a documentary or a full length feature film? I realize that this is sensitive to the affected families but somehow the truth has to be told. History has a way of repeating itself if the parties involved fail to learn from it.

beenhere awhile wrote:

My heart ached in 74 for these people and families. And every time I recall those times my heart aches. If you lived here then you should still have the pain in your heart weather you are Native or Anglo for these families .
The family should have been consulted to portray the people as well as the incident. the individual lives needed to be depicted show who these men were . Not that they were some drunk which I have often heard people used referring to those 3 men murdered back then .

Three victim families?...., hmm? Three victims? I remember 3 teenage suspects, and one victim.

I just read this book a few months ago. The implication was that Navajo medicine men cursed the teenage perps and destroyed them in restoring balance. The families are saying they don't want this film made.

What happened to the murderers? Did they all die?

When writing about this horrific event, why aren't the murderers' names ever given?

MelanieThinker wrote:

What happened to the murderers? Did they all die?

Read the book and find out.5

Yeah.

But that doesn't answer my other question: Why won't anyone ever identify the murderers by name?

They did.

Only in the book. Articles about the murders always omit the murderers' names......such as this DT article. I've been Googling with the same results. They are referred to only as "teenage persp" or "teenage muderers". Never their names.

....uh, I meant "perps"

I would tell you their names but I forgot.

MelanieThinker wrote:

....uh, I meant "perps"

Vernon Crawford
Oren Thacker
Peter Burke

Sad story for the family members, however, if you don't want it to open new wounds, maybe don't pay to go see the movie???? Just a thought.

Broken Circle wrote:

<quoted text>
Three victim families?...., hmm? Three victims? I remember 3 teenage suspects, and one victim.

Uh...yeah. There were three people murdered = 3 victims and their families.

MelanieThinker wrote:

What happened to the murderers? Did they all die?

You should read the book to find out. Because, it's interesting. Some of the book is a little boring, to me. But, it is filled with the racial things you talk about. After you read it, maybe you will see how far this community has come, though. This incident, also, divided the Navajo Nation.

I contend there is racism on both sides, like I always have. But, there have, also always been those of us who respect each other and our side is growing.

If you read the book, there is something I would like to discuss with you about the racial tension, back then.

I know their names, I went to FHS with the three idiots, two were juniors and a sophomore. I recall they were trouble makers. I know two are dead and not sure about the third.

MelanieThinker wrote:

....uh, I meant "perps"

Hey Melanie-Do some research and find out for yourself who the "perps" were(it is a matter of public record) and then you can spill it all over this rag. No one will get mad at you and you will still maintain you anon status. Are you wanting to have some one else do it fo you? Aint gonna happen! C'mon you can do it.

Firefly wrote:

<quoted text>
Vernon Crawford
Oren Thacker
Peter Burke

Not their names.

Firefly wrote:

<quoted text>
You should read the book to find out. Because, it's interesting. Some of the book is a little boring, to me. But, it is filled with the racial things you talk about. After you read it, maybe you will see how far this community has come, though. This incident, also, divided the Navajo Nation.
I contend there is racism on both sides, like I always have. But, there have, also always been those of us who respect each other and our side is growing.
If you read the book, there is something I would like to discuss with you about the racial tension, back then.

I remember when it happened; we had moved here just prior to that. In fact, we lived in the same neighborhood as one of the perps and his family. At one time, I knew all three names, and to tell you the truth, none of those names sound familiar, except for Thacker, and I think that may be the one we lived near.

I have never read the book, although from time to time, I have thought about doing so. I may go ahead and read it just to see the differences from then to now.

As I've said before, when we moved here back in those days, it seemed to me racism against the Navajo was blatant and rampant, and yet, most people would deny it existed.....or, if they didn't deny it, would just laugh it off.

In Googling these murders a few hours ago, I came across several other really disgusting, race/hate-based crimes that have occurred in recent years here, though--some I was aware of; some I was not. I also found several national articles depciting Farmington as a racist comunity.

I don't disagree that things have changed and somewhat for the better, but racism still exists (for instance, if you read about the Clint John killing, there were witnesses --- over 14 --- who were just other shoppers and who disputed everything Scott said about what happened and why John was shot. WalMart camera surveillance did not corroborate Scott's story, either).

I will let you know when I finish the book.