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THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003

Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri was wrong to send state troopers to the Narragansett Reservation, The New London Day says in an editorial.

But members of the tribe were wrong to fight back when the police tried to shut down the tribe's smokeshop, the paper adds. The proper place to resolve the dispute over tax-free tobacco products is the courthouse, the paper says.

"The clash that broke out was bad for everyone. It invoked anger and violence while doing nothing to further Indian economic development goals or respect for the state and the law," the paper says.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Violence In Charlestown (The New London Day 7/17)

More on the Raid:
Video | Pictures | Text: Gov. Carcieri's July 14 Press Conference | Text: Gov. Carcieri's July 15 Statement | Text: Excerpts of Narragansett Chief Sachem July 14 Press Conference

Rhode Island's Court Filings:
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order | Washington County Superior Court Complaint

Relevant Laws:
Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act (US Code)

Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org
Rhode Island Governor - http://www.governor.state.ri.us
Rhode Island Attorney General - http://www.riag.state.ri.us

Related Stories:
Tribal smoke shop feud heads to court (7/16)
Carcieri launches two probes into smokeshop raid (7/16)
Lawmakers call for court resolution of dispute (7/16)
Editorial: R.I. tribe shares blame for violence (7/16)
R.I. raids Narragansett tribal smoke shop (7/15)
Narragansett Tribe wants to head to federal court (7/15)
Analysis: Carcieri 'paternalistic' on Indians (7/15)
Column: Tribal smokeshop raid something out of 1963 (7/15)
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)