George Floyd protests in Nebraska

On May 31, a peaceful protest took place along the corner of N-370 and Galvin Road. Police officers joined the protesters arm in arm, with a Bellevue Police Department sergeant speaking out against corrupt officers.[1]

In the northwest Nebraska town of Chadron, dozens of students and others voiced their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.[2] The protesters carried signs and held a lie-in on June 3, 2020.[3]

A group estimated at 300 people marched towards Pioneer Park in the center of the small town, on June 1, 2020.[4] Officials said that people in a passing car sprayed protesters with "a foul-smelling liquid that might have been urine."[5]

An estimated 50 people, many of them students, and some young families, gathered June 2, 2020, in the center of Harvard, to protest the killing of George Floyd and to call attention to the work that needs to be done in their own community.[6]

On Saturday, May 30, people gathered near downtown Kearney to protest the death of George Floyd.[7] The peaceful protesting continued with over 100 participants on Sunday, May 31, when protestors gathered at the Museum of Nebraska Art, marched to the main intersection of the town, and back. The May 31 protests included recognition of Omaha resident, James Scurlock, who was murdered at a protest in Omaha the previous night. Small groups of protestors continued to gather throughout the first week of June.[8]

Nebraska National Guard and state troopers guard the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln on May 31

On the morning of Friday, May 29, people gathered at the State Capitol to protest.[9] In the early morning hours of May 31, people gathered at around 27th and O Streets to protest.[10] Eight police officers were injured with one requiring advanced medical treatment, several businesses and police vehicles were damaged.[11] Tear gas and rubber bullets were used, and arrests were made.[10] On May 31, Lincoln Journal-Star reporter Chris Dunker was tackled and detained by police while live-streaming.[12]

About 300 people gathered peacefully in Norfolk on the weekend following the death of George Floyd.[5] Dozens gathered again on 13th and Norfolk Avenue on June 3, 2020, to show solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement and to protest the death of Floyd and the fatal shooting of James Scurlock in Omaha.[13]

Thousands of people protested on Friday, May 29 outside Crossroads Mall in West Omaha. Protests were peaceful until Omaha Police fired tear gas at protestors at 8:00pm.[14] Deputy Chief Ken Kanger stated that protestors were still peaceful as of 9:45 p.m[14] A small number of people broke the law, and 18 arrests were made due to failure to disperse. Police confined protestors in a parking lot and fired pepper balls at them because they were yelling.[14][15] The protesters relocated downtown and quickly became a riot, damaging several buildings throughout the night. Some protesters threw objects such as shoes and water bottles at police. At one point protesters surrounded a police vehicle. Two officers were injured during the riots.[16][17] Tear gas and pepper balls were used.[14]

Around midnight on Saturday, May 30, Jacob Gardner, a white bar owner in the Old Market, pointed a gun at protestors and killed James Scurlock, a 22-year-old black activist, after Scurlock attempted to tackle Gardner. The Douglas County Attorney's Office declined to press charges against Gardner.[18]

On Sunday, Mayor Jean Stothert issued a strict city-wide curfew from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM through June 3. On Monday, June 1, demonstrations began peacefully in downtown Omaha. Police began arresting people on charges of breaking curfew, including KMTV journalist, Jon Kipper, and two women as they were walking to their car.[19]

On May 31, dozens of protesters marched from Guadalupe Center through the streets of downtown Scottsbluff to protest the death of George Floyd. A candlelight vigil was also held in Centennial Park.[20]