The Government Is Killing Natives In Arizona. They’re Fed Up

Last year, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" premiered to massive critical acclaim. The film showed the complicated and tortured life of the father of the Atomic Bomb, and did not shy away from any controversial topics.

One of which, is the use of native land to conduct the Trinity tests. An issue that was seen as trivial to the U.S. Government, but life changing to those who lived nearby.

The Effects of Nuclear Weapons on Native Tribes

In Arizona, much of Navajo land is infected. No, not with any tangible disease, but one far, far worse. Since the beginning of the Nuclear age, these lands have been riddled with uranium mines and nuclear test sites, coating the nearby areas with copious amounts of radiation.

This radiation has been killing the members of the Navajo Nation, and they're fed up with it. Some members have had cancer twice in their lives, while others suffer from liver disease and other organ failure.

Something needs to be done about this.

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Read More: Taking the U Out of Navajo: Arizona's Fight Against Uranium Mining

March for RECA

Good behavior gets you nowhere, so 50 members of the Navajo Nation in Arizona have boarded a bus, and are on their way to march on the U.S. Capitol. What are they marching for? RECA, or the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This allows affected families to receive some sort of restitution.

They are marching to Reauthorize the act, which would extend the act's filing period. The bill passed through the Senate in early 2024, so now it's up to the House. While they have their issues, mostly financial, Arizona Congressmen from both sides of the aisle have come out in support.

[RECA][ABC15]