Updated Saturday, 10:57 am
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts weights in publically on the violence in Minnesota and protests occurring in Omaha and Lincoln through a serious of tweets on Twitter.
I have seen the video of former Officer Chauvin killing George Floyd, and I am appalled and angry. Events like this break the trust between law enforcement and communities of color. Justice must be served.
— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) May 30, 2020
Updated Saturday, 10:45 am
A call to action from Lincoln city officials to peacefully protest after violence broke out in central Lincoln early Saturday morning.
“I am asking you, every single one of you, it’s not enough for you to say ‘I won’t be part of that violence, I won’t be part of that destruction but I’m going to let my friends, my children know that my expectation is that this does not happen in the city of Lincoln’,” Jeff Bliemeister, Lincoln’s chief of police, said during a mid-morning police briefing.
The chief said officers are investigating nine cases of vandalism with the most extensive damage to a business at 25th and O streets.
Eight officers were injured while trying to prevent harm and destruction according to Bliemeister. One was taken to the hospital for staples after being hit in the head with an object, the person has since been released. Three cruisers were damaged.
“I’m outraged, our officers are outraged by what occurred in Minnesota and there should absolutely be an opportunity to voice that for change to be going forward,” he said. “But we can’t let what happened last night by a very small group of people in Lincoln detract from the overall message. That’s really what’s happening because this becomes the focus – the violence, the destruction – not the murder of George Floyd.”
Bliemeister says three arrests were made for individuals who failed to disperse So far, one injury was reported from a hit-and-run accident. No information was provided on the person’s condition.
“Anger turned into violence and destruction her in LIncoln. We can’t have that. That honors no one,” Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said.
All council members were present this morning and several spoke including Sondra Washington.
“I totally understand the anxiety the frustration, the anger, the grief of everyone who has been touched by this incident and every incident that has happened over my entire lifetime as black men and women are killed senselessly at the hand who are supposed to protect us. I feel safe in Lincoln, Nebraska,” she said.
Bliemeister said LPD plans to add additional resources today and into tonight monitor the city.
“We are putting practices in place where we are preparing in the event where things may happen again, but we are confident they will not and this will be a planning exercise.”
A Black Lives Matter march is planned tomorrow at the state capitol building and Bliemeister says the plan to monitor that too.
Posted early Saturday
Peaceful protests near the area of 25th and O streets Friday night over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned violent.
Police dressed in riot gear used rubber bullets and tear gas on a crowd gathered near a few blocks east around 2 a.m. It began peacefully but a Tweet from LPD said the gathering was ‘no longer a peaceful protest’ a few hours later.
Authorities noted several arrests have been made including some injuries to officers. The E-Z Go convenience store suffered damage.
Protests turned violent in Omaha last night which is a stark contrast from peaceful protests earlier Friday in both cities.
More information will be provided at another briefing at 10 a.m.