Smoke Shop Confrontation
ACLU joining Narragansett Indians' court battle
(Providence-AP) -- The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has joined the Narragansett Indians' court battle to sell tobacco tax-free on Indian land near Charlestown.
The A-C-L-U's friend of the court brief claims federal law gives the Narragansetts sovereignty, and thus bars the state from entering tribal lands and seizing property.
The chapter writes the raid was unconstitutional, and, (quote) ``a shocking abuse of power.''
The state views the tax-free smoke shop as an illegal business. State police closed the shop on July 14th in a violent raid in which at least seven Narragansetts were arrested. A committee
appointed by Governor Carcieri is reviewing the raid.
The tribe believes it had the right to run the shop on Route Two. It has asked a federal court to reopen the business.
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