Protests against police brutality continued Saturday as demonstrators once again took to the streets in multiple marches on the capitol.
Around 11:30 a.mHundreds of demonstrators, mostly donned in black, marched from the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus to the capitol building, where music, food and a variety of
Protesters relax on a wall across the street from the Capitol
beverages and more were waiting.
Demonstrator Emily Pineda told KLIN News she hasn’t seen the video of the events leading up to the death of George Floyd, where a Minneapolis police officer knelt of Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes, but she has seen images.
“Rather than allowing myself to get more angry and to kind of take the wrong path and take my anger out in negative ways, I would rather channel that into something positive,” said Pineda.
During the day’s demonstration, she along with volunteers with Civic Nebraska and League of Women voters ran a booth where demonstrators could register to vote.
Demonstrator C.J Ways, a black man, said he showed up to witness a movement in motion.
“I can’t believe it, man,” said Ways. “It’s unfathomable to see all the people support the same cause you know? Because it feels like we’re not fighting alone.”
Ways said the demonstrations that have taken place over the past two weeks have been the result of a long pattern.
“All these chains of videos and all these victims are now seemingly coming together,” said Ways. “I don’t know if it was because of George Floyd or because we’re tired, but I’m just happy to see
Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews respond to a protester who apparently passed out during demonstrations
that it’s happening now.”
To help feed demonstrators John Grubbs along with other volunteers cooked bratwurst and handed out water to anyone who participated, free of charge.
“What’s happened to George Floyd and many others is inexcusable,” said Grubbs. “I just want to be able to give back to the community.”
Grubbs said all proceeds from his We Are One Cookout Go Fund Me page, which as of Saturday raised over $18,000, will be donated to local non-profit Visionary Youth.
Events at the capitol, which included impassioned speeches, were suddenly interrupted when a demonstrator passed out, presumably from heat exhaustion.
Then another protester passed out.
After a third protester had to be carried away, the marching began again, this time back to the UNL campus.
After a few more impassioned speeches, the protestors gathered their things and descended on the Capitol once more.