Letter to U.N. Special Rapporteur Mr. Amor from Thayer Scudder

To: Abdelfattah Amor
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights

From: Thayer Scudder
Professor of Anthropology
California Institute of Technology

I had hoped to be able to present this testimony to you in person, but in route back
from Hong Kong last week, I caught the flu which has kept me from traveling to Black
Mesa this weekend. I deeply regret that because I believe that the forced relocation
of Navajo and Hopi people that followed from the passage in 1974 of Public Law 93-531
is a major violation of the people’s human rights, including more specifically a
violation of their religious rights. Indeed, this forced relocation of over 12,000
Native Americans is one of the worst cases of involuntary community resettlement that
I have studied throughout the world over the past 40 years. While you are at Black
Mesa you will be given up-to-date information on the current situation. My testimony
is intended to provide background that I hope you will find useful. Read more