Natives protest New York City Mayor’s Comments

Native American rights groups marched to City Hall in New York City on August 23 over comments made by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in reference to the state’s efforts to enforce the collection of taxes for cigarette sales from Native American stores.

During an August 13 radio appearance, Bloomberg made the following comment: “I’ve said this to (New York Governor) David Paterson, I said, you know, ‘Get yourself a cowboy hat and a shotgun. If there’s ever a great video, it’s you standing in the middle of the New York State Thurway saying, you know, ‘Read my lips – the law of the land is this, and we’re going to enforce the law.’”

Various Native American groups have since called for the mayor’s resignation over the comments. Bloomberg has yet to make an apology over the remarks.