Police Arrest Demonstrators at OPOA Union Hall After ‘Pig Roast’
A few dozen demonstrators gathered outside the union hall of Omaha police officers with three severed pig heads Saturday evening after a cookout referred to as a “pig roast” by organizers.
The Omaha Police Department said between 40 and 50 people entered the north parking lot of the Omaha Police Officers Association property at 13445 Cryer Ave. about 8:49 p.m. Saturday.
After about 20 minutes, a police commander told the crowd to disperse. An unlawful assembly was declared by police at 9:10 p.m.
Seven arrests were made, according to a police spokesman. Charges included trespassing, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, obstructing law enforcement, littering and unlawful assembly.
Police were seen in social media videos rushing the crowd, which retreated off the property and back to the nearby Montclair Park, the site of the cookout. Some officers were carrying batons, according to a report by NOISE, which had a reporter on the scene, as well as posts shared by demonstrators.
A settlement entered into by the City of Omaha earlier this year in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Nebraska on behalf of ProBLAC, the Progressive Black-Led Ally Coalition, after protests last summer. The Omaha Police Department has since updated its approach to handling mass arrests.
Under the settlement, officers are generally prohibited from using chemical agents against anyone who is engaged in expressive, non-violent behavior. Exceptions exist, including when a specific person is targeted for arrest and given warning, but even then, chemical agents should only be used as “a last resort to protect against injury to members of the public or law-enforcement officers,” according to the agreement.
Saturday’s demonstration was organized by the Revolutionary Action Party, a group that describes its aim as “to empower and instill a revolutionary consciousness in our communities.”
On Facebook, the Revolutionary Action Party cited the declaration of racism in Omaha as a public health crisis by the Douglas County Health Department. The group stated three demands:
1. That the Nebraska Democratic Party and Douglas County Democratic Party call on Democratic lawmakers and future candidates to pledge to not accept the endorsement of or any financial support from the Omaha Police Officers Association, citing a flyer sent in advance of the recent municipal election decried as racist;
2. That Danny Begley, a Democrat who was elected to the Omaha City Council over Cammy Watkins — the target by the contested OPOA ad, draft a resolution condemning the OPOA and union president Anthony Conner, within 30 days of taking office; and
3. That Connor resign immediately and furthermore enroll in “Afrocentric sensitivity and anti-oppression training.”
In a tweet, Connor posted photos of the pig heads and asked what part of that was OK.
“Pay attention to those that are denouncing this act and those that are silent,” Connor said.
Rep. Don Bacon condemned the demonstrators, saying on Twitter that they were dehumanizing police officers and that their conduct was shameful. Responding to Bacon’s tweet, Jane Kleeb, leader of the state Democratic Party, called the conduct “awful” and one that wasn’t supported by Democrats.
In a statement posted Monday morning, the Revolutionary Action Party said “OPD showed their true white supremacist colors during our final peaceful demonstration of the night.” Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said called the group’s conduct “disgusting.”
“The responding officers acted professionally and responsibly after repeated attempts to peacefully clear private property,” Stothert said in a statement.
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