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SENECAS TIGHTEN SECURITY AFTER BOMBING
Disturbance in Irving offices is linked to squabble over gambling
By Donna Snyder, News Cattaraugus Correspondent
IRVING - Security at the offices of the Seneca Nation of Indians was tightened
Thursday after police investigated reports of a disturbance and a gas bomb
being tossed into the building Wednesday afternoon.
Employees said plainclothes security officers were checking the iden-
tities of visitors to the building throughout the day Thursday.
State police based in Fredonia who investigated the disturbance at the
William Seneca Office Building on the Cattaraugus Reservation said they
receivedcomplaints from Susan Abrams and Janette Lay that they had been shoved
and
pushed while inside the building. The two reportedly are alligned with a fac-
tion opposed to casino gambling on the reservation.
Police also said some type of pepper gas or Mace bomb was thrown,
spreading noxious fumes throughout hallways and offices of the single-story
building.
Police have given the information to the Erie County district attorney'soffice
for further investigation. Barry Snyder, Seneca president, did not
return calls to comment.
Two employees who asked not to be identified said their eyes burned
after the gas bomb detonated.
Before the attack, several women were in the hall shouting and creating
a disturbance, the employees said. When they were asked to leave, there was
pushing and shoving, they added.
The employees said the disturbance was the result of disciplinary inter-views,
conducted by Snyder, of employees of the Seneca Service Mart at Irving
who were suspended after they participated in protests last weekend over
gambling.
Seneca rules of conduct do not allow workers to participate in any
action contrary to government policies. One disgruntled worker became angry
during his hearing and left the building to summon the women, an employee
said.
Anti-gambling protesters, including Mrs. Abrams, persuaded the Seneca
Tribal Council last Saturday to reverse a decision to begin negotiations with
the state to establish a gambling casino on Seneca land.
Snyder and the Council closed down the tribe's gasoline and bingo
operations last Friday after several protested outside the businesses.
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I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so if any more articles appear on
these topics, I hope someone else in Western NY will post them in my place.
-Pat Crowe, SUNY at Buffalo