LINCOLN, Neb. – Just days after the Nebraska Legislature wrapped up session, advocates are calling on state senators to get back to work.
The ACLU of Nebraska, Academy of Equity, Black and Pink, Black Leaders Movement, Change Now, Change of Omaha, Educators for Black Lives, I Be Black Girl, the Lincoln Branch of the NAACP and the UNL Black Student Union sent a joint letter Monday morning to Gov. Pete Ricketts and state senators, urging them to follow the lead of other states and call a special session dedicated to police reform and racial justice.
The letter points to concerns raised at protests and Judiciary Committee listening sessions in June, saying action has fallen far short of what Black Nebraskans expect.
“We request action from our elected leaders,” the letter reads in part. “We request that they commit to actual change and ensure that policies are passed that will truly increase accountability in our police forces across the state and to ensure justice and equal protection for people of color. Reform must be a focused agenda item and to ensure its priority, we urge that this item be addressed now in a session solely dedicated to it. Addressing these problems cannot wait until January 2021. Now is the time for an actual commitment and action to address these problems.”
The letter comes just two days after Gov. Ricketts vetoed a ban on natural hair discrimination. State senators did not have an opportunity to attempt to override the veto because they were no longer in session.
Special sessions can be convened either by the Governor’s executive decision or with agreement from two-thirds of the Nebraska Legislature.
By law, they are narrowly focused. State law prevents state senators from addressing business outside of the specific focus of the special session. In recent years, special sessions have been called for action on the Keystone XL pipeline, the Safe Haven law and budget needs.
Racial justice deserves to be on that list.
WHAT PARTNERS ARE SAYING
“As our work with community members grows and deepens, we feel obligated to reinforce the truth that the unicameral must answer the call of its constituents with a special session dedicated to the issues that truly matter. If we raise the floor, elevating the lived experiences of vulnerable communities, we increase the participation of all Nebraskans. We increase the common good. That’s the obligation of every senator in this body. We are all counting on you.”
- Ja Keen Fox, Academy of Equity
"Our communities deserve for the Nebraska Legislature to keep our health and safety at the forefront of all that they do. Communities across Nebraska, specifically Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, are impacted daily by the harm that is inflicted by law enforcement. In order for the people who are most impacted by oppressive systems to have access to health and safety, our state must prioritize defunding the police and seeking true alternatives to policing, including investing in community care and resources."
- Dominique Morgan, Black and Pink
"The Legislature has failed to address the most important issues facing citizens this session. Black Leaders Movement stands with the ACLU in demanding a special legislative session to address police reform in our state."
- Paska Juma, Black Leaders Movement
“The summer may be ending, but this movement is not. The fight for justice and equality for Black lives and other POC is still in hot pursuit. A special session would allow us to continue the legislative aspect of this movement and, hopefully, get bills passed that can counter the oppressive nature of the systems and policies we have in place. Quite frankly, it would be a further injustice to not go forward with a special session when there are so many bills and proposals that need to be addressed to combat the systemic oppression minority communities are facing. The time for change is now, and it absolutely cannot be pushed aside or delayed.”
- Kiara Williams, Change Now
"Legislation must evolve with the concerns and demands of its constituents. Legislators have the power to make this happen. Calling for a special session is a call for both accountability and equity. As calls to action have echoed throughout the state of Nebraska since May, our senators must prioritize antiracism now more than ever."
- Charita Dailey, Change of Omaha
"A refusal to intentionally prioritize antiracist policies is a choice to ignore the poison of racism in our community. Our students are just one voice of many demanding action and it is time for our elected officials to listen: we can no longer be silent about the ways racism infiltrates our community."
- Educators for Black Lives
"Nebraska senators have important decisions and legislation to consider so holding a special session is imperative. Now is the time to decide who we want to be as leaders, policymakers and a state. We have to prioritize humanity and the issues that we have not resolved cannot wait."
- Ashlei Spivey, I Be Black Girl
"Racial justice must prevail for all Nebraskans".
- Dewayne Mays, President Lincoln Branch NAACP
“As legislators for the State of Nebraska you all have a moral obligation, now more than ever, to actively pass, create, and initiate policy work that is meant to serve your communities of color. We have protested, pleaded, and met with many of you. Now is the time to act."
- Batool Ibrahim, UNL Black Student Union
