Native American leaders, representatives and tribal members from the Unkechaug, Shinnecock, Narragansett, Delaware Chippewa, United Southern and Eastern Tribes, Oneida Nations and National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) convened on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan on Monday to express outrage and call for an apology from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for racist and incendiary remarks made during The John Gambling Show, on August 13, against the Seneca Nation.

During the program, which was broadcast on the WOR network, Bloomberg said to Gambling, "Now, why every governor – I've said this to 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 Thruway saying, you know, 'Read my lips, the law of the land is this, and we're going to enforce the law' But the, just think about it."

The remarks have drawn the ire of tribes in the New York State area and beyond, invoking stereotypical and offensive imagery and the use of violence against native people as several groups, particularly the Unkechaugs of Long Island, who have been actively engaged in a legal battle with the state over their right to sell tax-free cigarettes to non-tribal residents. But Monday's rally was not about cigarettes.

Tribal leaders and representatives presented official letters and statements from their respective nations to that effect while also expressing personal feelings of rage over Bloomberg's comments.

"I think that native people have been silent for too long and these types of statements have been made over and over in the past and it hasn't been addressed by us as a people," said Lance Gumbs, senior trustee and vice chairman of the Shinnecock Nation.

"Now we're taking a stance that we will no longer just sit back in the cut and allow this type of statement to be made. It's a regressive statement that's taking us back into a history that the United States of America is trying to forget," said Gumbs.

"It's on the level with the type of atrocities that happened in Europe. For a Jewish mayor to say something like this would be asking me to say something along the lines of, 'We're going to get Hitler and the Gestapo to regulate you and the Jewish people.' Or to African-Americans, 'Well, let's bring back the KKK.'"

Gumbs also expressed outrage at Governor Paterson's lack of response.

"These things have been a sour part of our history. His connotation and his statement about getting a cowboy hat and getting a shotgun, to us, is a very insensitive and irresponsible remark at this point in time when we're talking about social change and for everyone to get along, and you take us back into what we consider our dark ages," Gumbs said.

George Stonefish of the Delaware Chippewa and board member of the American Indian Community House (AICH) recalled how he had to sit at his dining room table and explain the offensive remark to his grandchildren.

"Mayor Bloomberg, history is replete with violence against Native Americans. Why would you encourage violence and injury to residents of the State of New York?" Stonefish asked.

"Mayor Bloomberg, rather than advising Governor Paterson to take violence against Native Americans, you should follow his example and sit down at the table to reach an understanding, government to government," Stonefish said.

Harry Wallace, leader of the Unkechaug Nation, which has been in a five-year legal battle with the state over cigarette taxes, issued a response to Bloomberg's August 13 remark: "The Unkechaug Nation supports the call of President Barry Snyder of the Seneca Nation and NCAI President Jefferson Keel for the resignation and apology by Mayor Michael Bloomberg over his racist and insensitive comments when he invoked the use of violence against Indian Nations for defending their sovereignty and opposing the application of illegal state laws on their territories."

The Unkechaug know only too well the racially discriminatory practices of the mayor of New York because they have been directed solely at the Unkechaug for the past five years. Now it seems he is attempting to expand his reach and include the Seneca and other native communities in New York State.

Robert F. Kennedy once said, "Violence breeds violence, repression breeds retaliation. Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising common level of violence and ignore our humanity and our claims to civilization. When you teach that those who are different are a threat, you meet disagreement with force." It seems Mayor Bloomberg hasn't learned that lesson.

Wallace said, "As someone who was born in this city, personally lived and worked here in the past, I know that New Yorkers don't 'cowboy up."

Wallace also asked New York residents to contact the mayor and express their disapproval over the remarks.

Randy Noka from the Narragansett Tribe in Rhode Island said, "I find it totally offensive what the mayor said, and, obviously, we're here for that reason, to show solidarity on the part of Indian country and native nations. Those comments won't go unanswered by native nations.

"An apology is owed and a couple of days later, he still hasn't given it. Maybe he has no problem with what he said. Sometimes you say things that you regret, but you have to give that apology. He still hasn't given it so he must not regret it."

Noka read a letter issued by the president of the United Southeastern Tribes (USET), Brian Patterson, which condemned Bloomberg's comments, calling for an apology to all native people for the mayor's call for vigilante justice. He invited the mayor to sit down with the USET and New York State tribes at their annual meeting during the week of October 11, which will include all federally recognized tribes from Texas to Maine.

Gordell Wright, a trustee with the Shinnecock Nation, said, "Its not open season on native people. We're not going to revisit that time in history when it was right, when it was fine to hunt down Indian people and take what they had. As politicians and native leaders, it is our duty to sit down responsibly, honestly, on the same level, the same footing and discuss our issues.

"It's not reasonable to say we're going to get a cowboy hat and a shotgun. As those words were said, native people in this community and in New York State demand an apology from Mayor Bloomberg. Until that happens, we as native people can't feel safe with people in such positions advocating violence. I sincerely hope that Mayor Bloomberg apologizes to the people of New York City and New York State and native people across the country."

Kandice Watson from the Oneida Nation added, "As women, we are protectors of our people. We are a matrilineal society. We brought our children so that they will understand what is happening. This is about our future. This is not about taxes and not about cigarettes. This is about Indian sovereignty and we will defend it."

Ginew Benton, an Ojibway Cree, commented, "They took my drum, they took my rattle, but they won't take my voice."

He then began a traditional warrior song, which other members of the group joined in and sang.