Revisionist history or the truth well told?

By Karen Francis
Staff writer

GALLUP — The past came alive for many of the people who were at the University of New Mexico-Gallup campus to witness former mayor Emmitt Garcia break his silence on the kidnapping that happened more than 34 years ago.

While Garcia came to speak about the past, the comments and questions from audience members proved that racism in Gallup is still an important issue decades later.

It was standing room only when Garcia took to the podium Thursday afternoon to describe his version of what happened on March 1, 1973, when he was kidnapped by Larry Casuse, who was a UNM student at the time.

A banner sign of UNM’s KIVA Club hung on the wall and club members traveled from Albuquerque to witness the discussion. Casuse had been the president of the KIVA club — UNM’s Indian activist organization — when he was shot to death after Garcia was able to escape.

For many in the audience at the UNM talk, the kidnapping and the subsequent shooting of Casuse seemed like it happened just yesterday. Several audience members silently shed tears as they listened to Garcia recount the events of that day and many people in the audience spoke passionately during the call for questions.

Garcia and John Redhouse, an audience member who was working with the Indians Against Exploitation organization in Gallup at the time of the incident, clashed over details of their past conversations regarding possession of a camera that Casuse used prior to the incident with Garcia saying that Redhouse told him that the KIVA Club was still in possession of the camera and Redhouse denying he ever said that.

Other questions focused on a photograph of Gallup police officers posing over the body of Casuse.

During the morning presentation he gave at Miyamura High School , Garcia denied that the photo was posed and said, “There were people taking photographs all over the place.”

Also at the high school, former police Chief Manuel Gonzales acknowledged that procedure was not followed by not placing a blanket over Casuse’s body immediately after he was shot and killed.

“We got criticized for not putting a blanket on him immediately ... We were so excited ... we forgot routine,” he said.

Most who spoke — even those who challenged the former mayor’s version of the story —  thanked Garcia for finally speaking out. However, one of the audience members called it “revisionist history” and said, “We want a chance to tell our side.”

He further said that Larry Casuse “did not die in vain because it ignited a spark in this country.”

Garcia himself agreed with that — going so far as to call the incident a “blessing in disguise.” He said that changes started coming about in Gallup as a result.

Though Garcia has not lived in Gallup for 34 years, many of the comments that people articulated focused on today’s problems.

Mervyn Tilden said that he was astounded by what Garcia was saying because it did not reflect what was happening in the city . He said that the alcohol and jewelry industries and law enforcement in Gallup collaborate to keep Indian people down.

“There’s a problem that the city of Gallup turns a blind eye to,” Tilden said to Garcia.

The current president of the UNM KIVA Club had eloquent words to express saying that the club still exists and that change was still needed.

“We have to create that change ourselves,” Jaycee Beyale said.

Following the presentation, the vice president of the club, Jovita Belgarde, said that it was really important for the club to be there because of its role in the incident.

“I think it was good for us to be here and show we still are active. This is still an important issue,” she said.

Sasha Spencer said she felt Garcia’s side of the story was inaccurate.

“The reflection of history was poorly addressed,” she said. She added that a lot of people still had questions when the discussion ended after more than 2 1/2 hours.

Autumn Chacon said the talk was “informational, but you have to take it with a grain of salt.”

For two Navajo students who attended Garcia’s talk at the high school, the information was surprising.

Based on their studies of history, Amberlynn Francis, ninth grade student, said, “It made it seem like he was a bad guy.”

Tia Tso, also a ninth grader, said “But he really was trying to help.”

And though they were not born when the kidnapping and shooting occurred, they said there have been improvements since then.

“I think we have improved our community. There’s still a lot of problems but not as bad as they used to be,” Tso said.