By Kassidy Arena, Senior Reporter Nebraska Public Media New
Omaha, NE-Select civil rights advocates met with police representatives in South Omaha to mediate between police and communities of color. But the meeting itself was limited to only a few people.
According to a press release from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), attendees included one representative from each of four marginalized communities, as well as the Omaha Chief of Police and other law enforcement officials.
The LULAC press release said the session was, “part of formal mediation with the Department of Justice oversight to address the community’s concerns over police relations up to and including recent tragedies involving the use of deadly force.”
Anthony Rogers Wright had intended to go to the meeting, but was one of many not allowed to participate.
“To sort of hand pick one person as speaking for the entire Black community is disrespectful, and it’s kind of dangerous as well, because we want to hear from different people who have different perspectives,” he said outside the meeting room. “Just because someone looks like me does not mean that they absolutely speak for me.”
The public and members of the media were not allowed into the meeting, despite it being advertised as a public event.
A group of people waited outside the meeting in hope of joining in, but eventually left after papers were taped up to block a window that provided the only visual access to the mediation.
Lavelle Wells of the Omaha Nation was disappointed he couldn’t share his thoughts with police as someone who is “boots on the ground” with Indigenous communities in Omaha.
“There’s a big rift and between us and the police and distrust and there needs to be more programs or something to kind of engage with our peoples, to even be recognized,” Wells said. “A lot of times, we’re just still forgotten people on our own land.”
The distrust Wells has seen and experienced isn’t unique to Indigenous communities, however. Billy Mendez, the community liaison for the National Latino Peace Officers Association Omaha chapter, said the distrust is evident in a few of the populations around the city.
“We should be regularly meeting to see what’s going on, what the issues are, and what we can do to help,” he said. “We’re going to play an intricate role in helping bridge the gap between the police department and the community itself.”
The mediation was organized through the U.S. Department of Justice, and the discussions were kept confidential. The mediation was also set up by LULAC.
Joe Henry, LULAC’s Advisor to the President for Civic Engagement and Elections, said LULAC will continue to advocate for conversations with law enforcement. He added if anyone throughout the Omaha community have concerns or thoughts that should be included in the mediations, to reach out to LULAC members.
Omaha Chief of Police Todd Schmaderer said the meeting was productive and common ground was established.
Henry said he looks forward to future mediation conversations in the future, but no date has been decided.
Facebook Comments