In tiny Harvard, Nebraska, the town’s only black man organized a Black Lives Matter rally that drew many of his neighbors and a sympathetic police chief.
In the northwest Nebraska college town of Chadron, dozens of students and others voiced their solidarity with the movement.
From the Panhandle town of Scottsbluff east across Nebraska, many communities have turned out to show their support for people of color and to protest police brutality and racism.
And in several of those rallies, Nebraskans have lain on the ground on their bellies, hands clasped behind their back, to get a small sense of what George Floyd experienced before he died with the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on his neck.
“I haven’t met anybody who is morally OK with the murder of George Floyd,” Trysa Flood, a junior at Chadron State College, said in a video the college published of a rally there Wednesday. “At this point, silence is violence.”
BrYanna Lyon said she was surprised how many people showed up at the Chadron rally to support her and other African Americans.
“If two people had showed up, we would have been grateful as a black community,” she said.
But what matters is that brutality toward people of color comes to an end.
One of Thursday’s protesters in Grand Island was 10-year-old Brianna Simpkins. Demonstrators have received supportive honks and cheers from passing cars.
JEFF BAHR/WORLD-HERALD NEWS SERVICE
Chadron Police Chief Tim Lordino attended the rally to show his support.
“I’m here to engage,” he said. “It’s important that we be respectful of each other’s rights. I want to make sure those rights are protected.”
In Grand Island, chants were met by honks and cheers from passing drivers on Wednesday. It was the fourth night of protests following acts of violence on Sunday and Tuesday nights, according to the Grand Island Independent.
As in other cities, protest organizers in Grand Island said they did not support those who would do violence.
“They’re not part of our protest,” Jasmine Tapia of the group Justice Coalition of Grand Island told the Independent. “That should not even be a question because that is not what we’re about.”
About 50 people turned out for the rally in Harvard, Nebraska, where the population is about 970.
The protest was organized by Jermaine Guinyard, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.
“Even in small-town Nebraska, we may not deal with police brutality, but we have injustice and inequality to deal with,” said Guinyard, who is black.
Speakers included pastors, the police chief and his officer.
“I’m not in favor of any excessive force at all,” Police Chief Wayne Alley said from the steps of the Harvard city hall. “And I’m for everything that you guys stand for. I wish you the best of luck.”
Weekend of protests in Lincoln
Photos: Weekend of protests in Lincoln
George Floyd Protest
Protesters stand in front of police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People enter and exit the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A firework explodes between protesters and police outside the EZ GO at 25th and O streets Saturday morning. A small number of people protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis turned violent, breaking store windows and threatening police.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A protester confronts the police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Lincoln police officers stand guard outside the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets, which was looted after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Protesters knee in front of the police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Advancing police officers in riot gear push forward as two protesters confront them near 25th and O Streets early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Protesters raise their hands as they confront police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after it has been looted early Saturday morning, following a protest of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Police disperse crowds at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Police officers stand guard outside the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after it has been looted following a protest early Saturday morning in response of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A protester throws a window cleaner at police standing guard at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A small team of police retreat after initially trying to disperse the gathering crowd at a looted EZ GO gas station following a protest in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A policeman uses pepper spray to disperse the crowd at an EZ GO gas station that was looted after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A man breaks the windows of a MetroPCS store near 26th and O Streets after a protest about the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis turned to looting.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Protesters raise their hands in front of Lincoln police early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O Streets early Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near a police car near 26th and O streets to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A Lincoln police officer asks people to move away from a police car near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning during a protest of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A woman tries to stop the crowd outside an EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets early Saturday morning after windows were broken in a protest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A woman walks out of the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets that was looted early Saturday morning after a protest following of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
BLM Protest
Meghan Muehling (left) and Harper Anderson hold up signs to passing drivers near the state Capitol on Friday. They were protesting deaths that were the result of police brutality. "Cops need to protect and serve and not murder people," Muehling said.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
BLM Protest
Sen. Ernie Chambers joins Stand In for Lincoln protesters outside the state Capitol on Friday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
BLM Protest
Tami Damian holds up a sign at the state Capitol on Friday protesting the death of George Floyd.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Protesters raise their fists as they face police who responded to vandalism at the EZ Go near 25th and O streets Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Windows at the Ez Go gas station are seen broken after it was looted Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People walk in and out of the Ez Go convenience store as it was being looted on Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A man clears shattered glass from the ground of the Metro PCS store after protesters broke the windows on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A police vehicle sits outside of the EZ GO gas station on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A worker uses a broom to push out a broken glass frame at the EZ GO gas station on Saturday morning, following overnight protests that turned violent.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Property manager Roger Stolley shovels broken glass from the floor of the Metro PCS on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters march down O Street before turning left on 9th Street en route to the County-City Building on Saturday, May 30, 2020. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters gathered on both sides of K St. on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
Protesters head north down Centennial Mall on Saturday after leaving the State Capitol.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters march down to the County-City Building on S. 10th St. on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after beginning at the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Sheriff's deputies watch protesters as they converge on the County-City Building on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after they marched from the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
WATCH NOW: Lincoln protests erupt
WATCH NOW: Lincoln police chief provides update on overnight protests
Shattered glass
A protester bikes past a shattered entrance to a building on the Lincoln Mall late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Throwing brick
A protester throws a brick at a bus stop window late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protestors gather near the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Fireworks tossed in the direction of law enfourcement explodes outside the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters tossed fireworks at law enforcement officers guarding the entrance to the County-City Building.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Law enforcement in riot gear deployed tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Law enforcement line the entrance to the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protestors raise their hands in front of the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protestors gather in front of County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Law enforcement officers in riot gear advance from County-City Building toward protesters along Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A person uses a phone to capture the scene as protests turned violent in downtown Lincoln on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Law enforcement in riot gear advance from the County-City Building and down Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters raise their hands against law enforcement advancing along Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A woman raises her fist against advancing law enforcement during Saturday night's protest on Lincoln Mall.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A fellow protester offers spray to a man hit by tear gas on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Law enforcement clashed with protesters on Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters gather in front of County-City Building as tear gas is seen in the air, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters gather at Lincoln Mall during a clash with police near County-City Building, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters gather in front of County-City Building as tear gas is seen in the air, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/31/2020 - A pair of individuals leap from the broken window of the 3 Landmark Centre building after retrieving fire extinguishers from the premises on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
Lincoln police with three occupants of a car that had approached their position at 12th Street and Lincoln Mall early Sunday after overnight protests down the street at the County-City Building.
FRANCIS GARDLER/LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
Lincoln police advance into the intersection of 12th Street and Lincoln Mall on Sunday after protests down the street at the County-City Building.
FRANCIS GARDLER/ LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The fire-damaged Universal-Inland Insurance building on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
Broken glass from a bus stop at 11th Street and Lincoln Mall fills the trash on Sunday after overnight protests at the nearby County-City Building.
FRANCIS GARDLER,/LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
Buildings along Lincoln Mall had broken windows on Sunday after protests that took place overnight and Saturday at the nearby County-City Building.
FRANCIS GARDLER,/LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
Broken windows on the southwest corner of 3 Landmark Centre on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
Cleanup crews take care of broken windows at 1 Landmark Centre on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The Lincoln Fire Department returned Sunday to the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building.
FRANCIS GARDLER,/LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The Lincoln Fire Department firefighters remove files Sunday from an office at the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building.
FRANCIS GARDLER,/LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The Abraham Lincoln statue on the west side of the Nebraska State Capitol was spray-painted with an anarchist symbol during an overnight protest on Sunday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
George Floyd Protest
A man walks his bike past a door spray-painted with "George Floyd Murderers" after a night of protests in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A woman was being helped after tear gas was used to disperse crowds after looting at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Water
Water from an opened fire hydrant fills the street as protesters clash with law enforcement late Saturday near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The Abraham Lincoln statue on the west-side of the Nebraska State Capitol was spray-painted with an anarchist symbol during an overnight protest on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
George Floyd Protest
Protesters raise their hands in front of police near 25th and O streets as they protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Onlookers gather at the gas station opposite of County-City Building as protesters clash with police, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The Lincoln Fire Department returned to the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protest and Cleanup, 5.31
The Lincoln Fire Department returned to the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Onlookers stop to take in the scene of the Metro PCS on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
BLM Protest
Sen. Ernie Chambers (right) and Harper Anderson (left) joined about a dozen Stand In for Lincoln protesters outside of the state Capitol on Friday. "It's our job to speak out against white supremacy in this extremely broken system," Anderson said.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Mortar firework
A protester lobs a mortar firework at police late Saturday night at the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A man extinguishes a fire after vandals looted the EZ Go at 25th and O streets.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters take a knee at the County-City Building on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after beginning their march at the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
George Floyd Protest
George Floyd is spray-painted on a wall near the intersection of 27th and O streets on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A couple embrace on Lincoln Mall as protestors clash with law enforcement at the County-City Building on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A man wipes his eyes after law enforcement deployed tear gas on protesters Saturday night near the County-City building.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Protesters and onlookers gather as police station at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets early Saturday morning for a protest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People start a fire inside the EZ Go gas station at 25th and O streets early Saturday morning following a protest of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters valdalize an office building on Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Fellow protesters offer aid to someone injured in a clash with police on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A Lincoln police officer tries to ask people to move away from a police car near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning as they protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A woman looks on from a car in front of County-City Building as protesters clash with police, Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Police deploy tear gas to push back the remaining crowd near 26th and O Streets after a nearby gas station was looted after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning, protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
BLM Protest
A protester holds up a sign protesting the death of George Floyd on Friday in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Items litter the ground around the EZ GO gas station on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Saturday protest
A protester launches a bottle rocket as Saturday's peaceful protest suddenly turned violent near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
A breaks the windows of a MetroPCS store near 26th and O Streets early Saturday after protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis turned into looting.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
A protestor raises his hands in front of the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Breaking window
A protester breaks windows of a building on the Lincoln Mall late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
WATCH NOW: #GeorgeFloydProtest at County-City Building
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Lincoln Police Department Chief Jeff Bliemeister addresses protesters on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protestors gathered at the Nebraska State Capitol on Saturday, May 30, 2020. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protest
A protester calls for help after a woman is hit with a rubber bullet in the Lincoln mall when a peaceful protest turned violent late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protest at Capitol, 5.30
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - After leaving the capitol, protesters coverged on the County-City Building on Saturday, May 30, 2020. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Helping tear gas victim
A protester uses water to help a man who was hit with tear gas in an attempt to wash it off late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Tear gas shrouds law enforcement and a protester outside the County-City Building on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Law enforcement briefly detained two men who entered buildings with fire extinguishers to douse blazes set by protesters on Saturday night. A friend said later the men were released.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
BLM Protest
A protester holds a sign protesting the death of George Floyd on Friday at the state Capitol. The protest was organized by Stand In for Lincoln. "We've been angry since George Floyd's death, and we have wanted to speak out, this was our first chance to do so," Tami Damian (not pictured) said.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Early Morning Protest
Protesters sparked a fire in an office building along Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Police secure the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after it was looted after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
People kneel down and raise their hands at the Ez Go gas station near 26th and O Streets on Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
George Floyd Protest
Police deploy tear gas to push back the remaining crowd near 26th and O streets on Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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