Indians Block Highway In Tax Protest

About 1,000 American Indians and their supporters briefly blocked traffic on the New York State Thruway Sunday to protest the state’s collection of sales tax on Indian land.

“This is our land. This thruway is ours,” said Indian businessman Art Schindler, brother of Seneca Nation President Michael Schindler.

The demonstration started off peacefully along the side of the thruway, but a handful of protesters later lighted tire fires and scuffled with state troopers in the middle of the road.

Protesters also blocked nearby Route 5 and U.S. Route 20. State police detoured traffic around them.

Several minor injuries were reported.

The Seneca Nation of Indians and the St. Regis Mohawk Nation are still without an agreement with the state over taxes on gasoline and cigarettes sold to non-American Indians. The state has reached a temporary agreement with six other tribes.

The following fields overflowed: DATELINE = CATTARAUGUS INDIAN RESERVATION, N.Y.