Protests in Nebraska's biggest cities lead to 24 arrests
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Protests in Nebraska’s two largest cities over George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis resulted in two dozen arrests, injuries to police officers and damage to businesses and police cars.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts condemned vandalism and violence in Lincoln and Omaha Friday nigt and early Saturday morning after the protests turned to unrest, The Omaha World-Herald reports. But the governor also said “the significant majority” of protesters who were peaceful.
Floyd’s death in Minneapolis has sparked protests in cities throughout the country. Floyd, who was black and was handcuffed, died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, used his knee to pin down Floyd’s neck for several minutes while Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. Chauvin now faces third-degree murder and manslaughter charges.
In Omaha, 21 people were arrested on charges including disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, firearms possession and destruction of property.
Thousands of people blocked two streets near a mall in a busy commercial area a few miles west of downtown in a demonstration that began Friday evening with protesters carrying signs and chanting.
But as the night wore on, some protesters vandalized nearby businesses, mostly by breaking windows. Omaha police said people were still in the area around 1 a.m.
In Lincoln, three people were arrested for failing to disperse. A protest there started at 2 a.m. Saturday with about 200 people and continued for hours.
City police and Nebraska State Patrol troopers used rubber bullets and tear gas on the crowd, The Lincoln Journal Star reported.
Eight Lincoln police officers were injured, and one officer was taken to the hospital to get staples to his head after having a projectile thrown at him.
Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said three police cruisers were damaged, and there were nine reports of vandalism. The most extensive damage was to a business about a mile northeast of the Nebraska Capitol.