Eight Native men have been attacked in the last six weeks in Grants, New Mexico, the police sergeant said.

Some of the attacks have been linked to a controversy over a sacred site. One man who has been charged reportedly said he was upset with a decision by the New Mexico Cultural Properties Review Committee to place Mount Taylor on the Register of Cultural Properties.

Police are searching for four to six more suspects. One victim said one suspect said "Let's kill these Indians" before beating him.

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission held a public hearing in Grants to discuss the incidents. "We want to put an end to it mainly because we're looking at our grandkids," Vice President Ben Shelly told KRQE News 13.

Grants is located near the Navajo Nation, Acoma Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo and Zuni Pueblo.

Get the Story:
Navajo panel probes Grants beatings (KRQE-TV 7/24)
Community Reacts To Recent Native American Beatings (KOAT-TV 7/23)
Mayor speaks on beatings (The Cibola Beacon 7/23)

Related Stories:
Column: Dirty secrets of border town attacks (7/20)
Attacks on Native men linked to sacred site listing (7/6)
New Mexico panel votes to protect sacred site (6/8)
Tribes ask New Mexico panel to protect sacred site (05/19)
New Mexico committee to consider sacred site (5/14)
Sacred site on list of most endangered places (4/28)
Sacred site in New Mexico receives protection (6/16)
Sacred site up for discussion in New Mexico (6/13)
County opposes protections for sacred Mount Taylor (5/1)