ACLU of NebraskaVerified account

The demonstrations are in response to systemic racism in our communities and our country – racial injustice that has taken lives, fractured public trust and harmed people of color for too long.

Protesters were practicing their fundamental Constitutional rights of free speech, of assembly, and petitioning their government to seek justice. We are in solidarity now and always with people calling for racial justice.

At both scenes, law enforcement had two main jobs to do: protecting people’s right to protest and keeping everyone safe. They also had a choice in how to do that.

From what we observed, some actions – including use of chemical irritants, riot gear, and military vehicles - were unnecessary at best and contributed to escalating the situation for the worse.

It is important to remember that while the ACLU does not condone or encourage violence, we do understand people are hurting. Police should have addressed individual incidents to deescalate, instead of widely affecting the crowds engaged in peaceful protest.

No one has to approve of everything that happened at these protests to understand the emotions behind them. Protests are about sending a message. The message from last night was simple: racism is killing and harming people of color.

We can’t continue on the same path and we can’t let it go unchecked in Nebraska or beyond our state borders. We need real change and We the People want to see that change because #BlackLivesMatter.

It will take all of us to reach the aspiration in our state’s motto of Equality Before the Law – speaking out loudly against racism and taking action to address it. Protesters, we are with you.