I was there when this movie was filmed

I grew up in that area of NM when this movie was being filmed. The area bounded by Fierro, Hanover, Vanadium, Santa Rita, Bayard and Hurley. I was a young boy living in Vanadium, my father was the mill foreman at United States Smelting, Refining and Mining company (USSR and M Co.) or simply called "The US". Many of my friends and playmates were Hispanic and I can attest to their living conditions, at least at the mining camp of Vanadium. Since these kids were my peers, I spent time playing with them in and near their homes. I went to school at Bayard with kids from all of those mining camps near Bayard with the exceptions of the towns/mining camps that were big enough to have their own school systems. Clinton Jencks' son was my classmate as well. This was a very turbulent time in that area, coming on the heels of the House Un-American Activities hearings and the word "Communist" was on everyones tongue, especially when referring to the Union organizers. Predjudice against Hispanics was rampant and brutal. Many of the families from that area moved to Lordsburg after copper prices plummeted in the mid 50's, as did mine. I continued through school with many of my early Hispanic friends. They are still friends although we all scattered after graduating from High School. I apologize if use of the word "Hispanic" is offensive, it is not intended to be. Be somewhat wary when reading some of the histories written by various people and scholars about this time and this area. The strike took place in Fierro, not Bayard nor Hurley. The turmoil certainly spilled over into those towns and they were all joined in some fashion with the smelter in Hurley and the geographical center of the area, Bayard, which became the center after the town of Santa Rita was dismantled when the pit was enlarged.