“The Indians haven’t seen a trail of tears yet. Wait til you pass [the bill]. They gonna see a whole trail of tears again for them.”
Those were the ignorant words of now former Alabama state Rep. John Rogers earlier in this 2024 legislative session, as he argued for language to be included in a comprehensive gambling bill that guaranteed Black business owners a greater advantage.
Rogers was referencing the Poarch Band of Creek Indians – Alabama’s only federally recognized tribe – who operate three electronic bingo casinos in the state, and who were projected to be major players in the bidding for at least some of the seven additional casino licenses that would have been available had the House bill ultimately been passed and approved by voters.
