Thread by @asanderford

Stay safe tonight, #Omaha.

@OWHnews and @OWHpictures will be out. Let us know if we need to see something or be somewhere.

Lot of Old Market businesses covering windows today. Police are setting a perimeter a little wider than the block around the location in front of where James Scurlock was shot.

Only a handful of people down here so far.

The folks from @OmahaFireDept taking a walk through.

Small crowd leaving here headed to courthouse/city hall.

A lot of entrances to the Old Market area pretty tightly controlled. This is the view near 13th and Howard.

Downtown has a ghost town feel.

The view from 11th and Harney. A couple of protesters for James.

A different view of #Omaha’s Old Market.

Hi @OWHnews fam!

Back over near 13th and Harney the crowd is growing a little.

Talked to one protester earlier who says she is James’ sister in law. She says James had a heart of gold and really cared about his daughter, who is younger than 1.

She says she wants justice for him, not freedom for his shooter.

Just spoke with a young family of protesters, Devin Wayne, 24, Alexis Alback, 24, of Bellevue. They wanted their daughter, Aidyn, 5, to see that life matters, that people shouldn’t stand by when someone is killed.

They were at the 72nd and Dodge protest on Friday.

Wayne said he was “very, very upset” by the decision from Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine.

“Back in the Wild West, people fought with their fists. It was the outlaws who used guns on people who didn’t deserve it. This guy who shot James, he was an outlaw.”

I see you @OPDABLE1.

Small crowd of protesters moving into the shade a bit.

Correction to earlier tweet, I’m told it’s @NEStatePatrol helicopter.

I spoke with the first protester at the site this afternoon to protest the death of James Scurlock. It was Omaha North teacher Chase Magnett, 30. He said he attended the rally Sunday at the Malcolm X Center in north Omaha.

He said it was important to show solidarity with the students he teaches who experience life differently than he has as a white man, people who cope with more — more trauma Those kids, he said, need to know people believe in them and in their worth.

Down near 13th and Howard.

The @NENationalGuard is here.

A little perspective.

The woman protesting passionately at 13th and Howard was Destiny Minor, 23. She says she is frustrated because people want to protest peacefully, but the Guard is here with weapons.

“We don’t have guns. If they said they would join us, we would walk arm in arm with them.”

Here’s the scene.

This is a young man who gave his name as Dawson and wouldn’t give a last name. He says he’s here to fish for police. The officer nearby laughed.

Another protester.

Here is Destiny leading another cheer.

Here’s a nice moment between the @NENationalGuard and protesters.

Shown is Sgt. Justen Meneses

He got the guard to put down their guns. Crowd cheered.

They welcomed him back.

One more with the @NENationalGuard. Crowd happy guns are gone.

Guard over here handing out Gatorade.

Gentleman talking to the crowd.

James Robinson is his name. Says he works for OHA.

Here is Mr. Robinson. He’s urging people to be peaceful. No looting. No damage.

He’s asking people to think of a way forward, asking what the best way forward to influence leaders.

Someone in the crowd said, “Elect better ones.” Another said: “Vote.”

Sorry for the distraction, but somebody who lives nearby was walking a goat. It’s name is Wicho.

Carly Bell, 18, left, said she’s not here for George or James. She’s here for her brother, 14, who she says had a gun pulled on him by police at Memorial Park. She wants people to understand the trauma that causes. She wants people to see black men and black boys as people.

The crowd has started chanting “I can’t breathe.”

Little video.

Dominique Velez, 28, came out to protest because she says she fought for the country as a Marine (previous) and she thinks it’s excessive that @GovRicketts called out the @NENationalGuard for this.

She is holding the Puerto Rican flag, if I read it right.

Velez says she wants justice for JuJu, another name family members and friends have called James.

Warning: A little language.

Also protesting today is James’ friend Aaliyah Crawford, 19. She said she had to come protest because nobody should get away with shooting someone dead on the sidewalk.

“A murderer just got away with shooting my friend in the neck twice.”

Crawford said she was frustrated that more white people don’t get what’s going on and feel angry.

“I’m tired of talking to people and getting nowhere. That man is going to walk. A person shouldn’t be able to get away with killing a man.”

A discussion between a counter protester Sammy Sanchez, blue, and Velez got a little heated. Sanchez wanted Velez to stop directing frustration toward the @NENationalGuard. Velez said she served and said she wasn’t mad at them, but she wanted them to know she saw this as a waste.

Several in the crowd wanted Sanchez to read the room. She said her son served for this country and she believes the process can work with the help of a willing lawyer to file complaints and see them through. Several in the crowd said they tried.

Sanchez said after that she supports their goal of ending police brutality. But she wants people to try calm things down. Several in the crowd said they tried the other way and nothing changed.

The crowd got a little more riled up after the exchange. They came out further into the street from the curb, as you can see now.

Crowd asking cops to take a knee with them.

Some @OmahaPolice officers joined the protesters in taking a knee.

The crowd roared.

Some men delivering water.

Deputy Chief Ken Kanger sighting. He was talking to a protester about the difference between peaceful protests and when they deteriorate. I will try to find him to get his name.

Followed back up with Velez, who was speaking during part of the protest.

She said she’s frustrated because she doesn’t know how people are supposed to express themselves. People got mad at kneeling. People got mad at marching. People got mad at protesting. What can they do?

They’re chanting “No justice, no peace,” and “Prosecute the murderer.”

Things are pretty calm right now. Some chants. Growing crowd. Over 200 now I’d bet.

About to march a little bit, I’m hearing, listening to an organizer talk to Kanger. Worked with police.

Kanger just addressed some in the crowd. Said he was willing to help. Asked folks to help police behavior. Sorry for sideways. Hit the wrong button.

A better view of the return trip.

Marching in the Old Market.

Small group came back to 13th and Howard. Another group broke off and headed down to the heart of the Old Market.

Here we are by M’s Pub.

Near 11th and Howard.

Marching again.

Headed back to where the march began, 13th and Howard.

Back on the corner.

There’s always one in every crowd.

Police are trying to give people more room tonight.

But the cavalry is getting ready for curfew, if needed.

A mom was speaking to police when a protester stepped in to check.

Many in the crowd are starting to leave after a cell phone alert about curfew, but I spoke briefly with Nicholas Harden, 24, James Scurlock’s brother. He was wearing a shirt with his brother’s picture on it.

Harden said it’s so special to him to see all these people turn out and be peaceful the whole time. It honors his brother and his brother’s memory.

“It’s beautiful to see the community come together. No violence. No looting. Just peace. And understanding about a good man.”

Harden said his brother would love this, even if it is impossible for Harden and his family to swallow the idea that James was here two days ago and now is gone.

“I would’ve never thought that could’ve happened to my brother.”

Crowd thinning and police have said they might give about 20 minutes of cushion tonight.

Still easily 100-150 people here.

Here is a look at the @OmahaPolice and protester lines.

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