Legality of Mass Arrest

“Police had a choice in making this mass arrest...That choice defies state policy,” said ACLU of Nebraska communications director, Sam Petto about arrests in downtown Omaha on July 25th  following a demonstration in honor of the Portland protests and James Scurlock.

In a conversation with NOISE intern, Samantha Aguilar, Petto explained that state law dictates police should always air towards citations instead of arrests in these situations. 

The ACLU of Nebraska has been working since the night of the protest to determine if civil rights were violated along with that state law.. 

The Saturday demonstration was coming to an end when officers used a crowd control tactic called “kettling” to corral protesters on an overpass. Police then fired pepper balls into the crowd before arresting 120 demonstrators. They were held in the Douglas County jail with as many as 45 people in a cell with some demonstrators waiting almost 24 hours to be released.

The ACLU of Nebraska has established a “freedom fund” that provides assistance with legal representation, fines,fees, transportation to hearingsand more. Petto also said the ACLU is holding legal clinics to protect protesters’ rights to speak out. “We have to make sure we don't lose sight of the initial domino in this chain,” Petto said. “ That was police choosing to arrest everyone.”