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TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2003

The Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island said it would assert its rights in federal court in response to the state's raid and shutdown of a tribal tobacco shop on Monday.

State officials contends the tribe has to collect and remit state tax. They are asking a state court to resolve the dispute.

A Narragansett lawyer said the tribe would seek to transfer the case to federal court. Tribal leaders were critical of the state's handling of the raid, in which eight people were sent to the hospital, and seven tribal leaders were arrested, including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas.

Get the Story:
Violent raid shuts tribe's tobacco shop (The Providence Journal 7/15)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz
Tribe's Chief Among 8 Arrested (The Hartford Courant 7/15)
Smoke Shop Raid Turns Violent (The New London Day 7/15)
STRUGGLE FOR ACCORD - TRIBE, GOVERNOR DIFFER ON JURISDICTION (The Westerly Sun 7/15)
TRIBE HAILS MEMBERS AFTER SCUFFLE (The Westerly Sun 7/15)
Carcieri: State Had 'Every Right' To Raid Smoke Shop (WAJR News 7/14)
New Mexico Law Clearly Protects Smoke Shops (The Santa Fe New Mexican 7/15)

Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org

Related Stories:
Narragansett chief arrested in 'violent' raid (7/14)
R.I. governor promises to help Narragansett Tribe (06/04)
R.I. tribe upset over reservation checkpoint bill (05/30)
R.I. bill sets up reservation checkpoints (5/28)
R.I. tribe delays opening of tobacco shop (5/23)