The Seneca Nation of New York held two rallies on Wednesday to protest the state's attempt to impose a tobacco tax on reservations.

Tribal leaders and members pointed out that the rallies were peaceful. But that didn't stop the U.S. Marshals Service from sending three officers to one of the events.

"Outside forces like the media did a good job of making this seem like it was going to be something terrible,'' Nikki Seneca told The Jamestown Post-Journal.

The tribe won a temporary restraining order in federal court on Tuesday that prevents the state from imposing the tax on Seneca retailers. On Wednesday, a state court put a hold on the state pending another hearing.

''It's a risk anytime you go to court,'' tribal council member J.C. Seneca said at one of the rallies, the paper reported. ''Hopefully, we'll keep receiving favorable rulings.''

Get the Story:
Peaceful Protests (The Jamestown Post-Journal 9/2)

Relevant Documents:
ATF Letter on Tribal Consultation (May 19, 2010)

Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act:
H.R.1676 | S.1147

Related Stories:
Seneca and Cayuga tribes get temporary freeze on tobacco tax (9/1)
Opinion: New York tobacco tax placed on nonIndians, not tribes (9/1)
Deadline looms for tribes in New York over state tobacco taxes (8/31)
Editorial: New York City mayor must apologize for cowboy remark (8/27)
Judge expected to issue ruling in Seneca Nation tobacco tax case (8/27)
New York governor cites potential for 'violence' over state taxes (8/27)
Onondaga Nation drops name brand tobacco amid state tax push (8/27)
New York governor condemns 'inappropriate' remark about tribes (8/26)
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe files lawsuit against state taxation efforts (8/26)
Oneida Nation drops name brand tobacco in favor of own product (8/26)
Column: Mayor alienates Indians who helped build New York City (8/25)
Editorial: New York City mayor must apologize for cowboy remark (8/25)
New York tribes continue meetings over state tobacco tax efforts (8/25)
New York tribes united in opposition to state's tobacco efforts (08/19)
Seneca Nation sues to halt state taxation of reservation tobacco (08/18)
New York mayor wants tribes shown the 'shotgun' for tax issues (8/16)
Editorial: New York must take action against tribes over tobacco (8/16)
Judge won't continue injunction against tobacco trafficking law (8/13)
Editorial: New York tribes get more business by avoiding taxes (8/13)
State to return tobacco products and truck to Seneca retailer (8/12)
Tribal retailers see business boost after New York tobacco hike (8/11)
Seneca Nation business owner blasts state seizure of tobacco (8/10)
Reward doubled over derailment attempt on Seneca Nation land (07/23)
County lawmaker eyes support on tax free Seneca Nation tobacco (7/21)
Judge extends PACT Act restraining order for Seneca businesses (7/8)
Seneca Nation smoke shops shut down mail-order operations (6/30)
Seneca Nation smoke shop gets restraining order for PACT Act (6/29)
Seneca Nation defends tobacco sales on treaty anniversary (05/24)
ATF schedules tribal consultation on tobacco trafficking law (5/20)
Obama signs cigarette trafficking bill over tribal objections (4/1)
Seneca Nation asks Obama to veto cigarette mailing bill (03/19)
Cigarette trafficking bill sent to White House for review (3/18)
Editorial: PACT Act puts a halt to Internet tobacco sales (3/17)
White House weighs stance on cigarette trafficking bill (3/16)
Seneca Nation blasts passage of cigarette trafficking bill (3/15)
Lance Morgan: PACT Act a hidden power grab for states (3/12)
Seneca Nation lobbies against cigarette trafficking bill (3/8)
New York governor proposes tobacco tax regulations (02/24)
Seneca Nation targets Sen. Gillibrand for tobacco bill (01/25)
Seneca Nation prepares for battle over cigarette taxes (1/20)
New York governor puts Indian tobacco tax in new budget (1/19)
Seneca Nation aims to defeat cigarette trafficking bill (01/12)