Upstate Citizens for Equality facts for kids
Upstate Citizens for Equality (UCE) was a group of citizens based in Verona, New York. They were active for a time and focused on several issues related to the Oneida Indian Nation (OIN). UCE was against the OIN's land claim, the Turning Stone Resort Casino, and the OIN's request to have a large area of land (about 13,000 acres or 53 square kilometers) placed into a special federal trust. They also disagreed with the OIN's status as a sovereign nation and what they saw as problems with how the U.S. government dealt with Native American tribes. The group organized protests at OIN gas stations and the casino to show their opposition to the OIN's independent status and its unique relationship with the U.S. government and New York State.
Legal Challenges by UCE
UCE and some of its members tried to achieve their goals by taking legal action. They filed several lawsuits to challenge the OIN's land claim, but these attempts were not successful.
UCE also questioned whether a 1993 agreement between the Oneidas and New York State about gambling was valid. This agreement allows the Turning Stone Resort Casino to operate.
Additionally, UCE and some members challenged the OIN's request to have land placed into federal trust under a law called the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. However, a judge dismissed UCE's complaints, meaning the court did not agree with their arguments. UCE appealed this decision to a higher court, but the original ruling was upheld.
Criticism Against UCE
Many Native American groups, including every Nation near New York State and other tribes represented by the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), viewed UCE as a group that was against Native Americans.
The Oneida Indian Nation (OIN) was particularly critical of UCE and its members. UCE, however, argued that the OIN was accusing them of racism just to stop people from speaking out against their policies. Some non-Native Americans also accused UCE members of being racist. UCE denied these accusations, even though their stated goals were often seen as opposing Native American rights.
In December 2006, UCE President David Vickers made a comment on a radio show in Syracuse, New York, that led to accusations of racism. He was discussing a court decision and said that they would have to follow legal channels. He mentioned that in modern society, people couldn't be harmed, so they had to use legal methods. Many listeners found this comment very upsetting and saw it as inappropriate, leading to accusations of racism.
The National Congress of American Indians, which represents most Native American tribes, also condemned UCE. They described UCE as a racist group. They argued that even if UCE's actions didn't involve obvious violence, their goals were seen as trying to take away the rights and identity of Native American peoples. This was viewed as a hostile intention aimed at harming Native American governments and their communities.
