Lawsuit filed over recent Cherokee elections

(Tahlequah-AP) -- A group of Cherokee freedmen are suing the Department of Interior. <br><br>They claim the Bureau of Indian Affairs failed to protect their rights to vote in the tribe's recent election.

Tuesday, August 12th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tahlequah-AP) -- A group of Cherokee freedmen are suing the Department of Interior.

They claim the Bureau of Indian Affairs failed to protect their rights to vote in the tribe's recent election.

Members of Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association filed the lawsuit in U-S District Court.

The freedmen want the court to nullify results of the tribe's May 24th election and the July 27th runoff for chief and approval of a new constitution.

Freedmen are descendants of blacks who joined the tribe during the Civil War.