For Immediate Release: September 13, 2016
Contact: Bobbi Webster, Public Relations Director
bwebst@oneidanation.org
920-869-4270
(Oneida Reservation) – Judge Griesbach held a status conference today on the Oneida Nation’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop the Village of Hobart from interfering with the Nation’s Big Apple Fest on Saturday, September 17. The Judge indicated the Nation is likely to win on the merits of the case, but decided a preliminary injunction is not necessary because the Village promised not to harass or intimidate tribal officials, not to intrude on or interfere with the event, and not to issue citations at the event. The Village still maintains it has authority to regulate the Nation and the event, and that issue will be addressed in future proceedings.
In response to today’s court hearing, Chairwoman Danforth stated, “We are pleased that our Big Apple Fest will be held without the threat of disruption. The fact that our staff will not be cited or threatened with fines is a relief. We are confident that we will prevail in the lawsuit because the village does not have the authority to regulate the Nation or the Nation’s officials on the Reservation nor our lands held in trust.”
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