Equity at the Nebraska Capitol

Appeasing the Mob

by Sue Greenwald M.D.

“Equity,” as defined by critical theory, is the practice of ensuring equal results between disparate groups of people. Whether or not an action is “equitable” is determined by those in power and often enforced by law or violence. It does not allow for individual merit.

The dictionary definition of “Equity” is: providing various levels of support and assistance depending on specific needs or abilities.

Equity is explained to school children by using the drawing on left, but in practice, enforcing equal outcomes can look more like the drawing on the right.

The Beautiful Nebraska Capitol

The Nebraska Legislative Chamber has 2 balconies. One is reserved for the proponents of the bill being discussed and one is reserved for the opponents. Visiting school children can also often be seen in the balconies. It is a beautiful chamber and a system that largely works, until LB 574.

The “Let Them Grow Act”

LB 574 had been debated and filibustered for months before it was passed by the legislature on Friday, May 19, 2023. The final law restricts abortion to under 12 weeks gestation with some exceptions. It also bans transgender surgery for minors, and restricts hormone treatments for minors who want to alter their gender.

From the moment the bill was introduced on January 17, there were colorful and vociferous protestors laying claim to the Capitol Rotunda, the public square of the Capitol building. The protestors were not overtly violent, even though they were encouraged to be by Senators Machaela Cavanaugh and Megan Hunt who, during their persistent filibuster, repeatedly referred to proponents of the bill as haters, transphobes, and promotors of genocide. The fact that open carry of firearms is allowed in the Rotunda may have had a calming effect, as several citizens took advantage of that rule, intentionally acting as private security for other proponents who had to pass through the area.

Daily Intimidation

Nevertheless, intimidation of political opponents was a daily occurrence in the Rotunda. It took the form of moving closely behind a person, of shoving signs and cameras into people’s faces, or surrounding people while holding up signs to impede them, or screaming into their faces with verbal threats.

Citizen reporters, grassroots lobbyists and staff members at the Capitol were targeted the most, as their bios were circulated on radical left wing social media. People were doxxed, including at least one State Senator, and cars were vandalized. False allegations of “assault” were made against innocent people trying to escape a sign corral. At least one bystander was inadvertently knocked down by someone trying to flee the intimidation.

Needless to say, attendence of LB 574 proponents at the Capitol dropped off significantly. Those who continued to show up to support their Senators were a determined bunch. One of them was Danna Seevers of Seward.

The Set Up

On April 19, as a Constitutional Carry bill was being passed by the legislature, a citizen stood up in the balcony and began to scream “Shame, shame, shame” at the Senators, and kept screaming until she was escorted out of the building. She was “banned and barred” per unicameral rules, until a few days later, when inexplicably, the ban was lifted. The article linked above explains how unusual an occurrence this was.

Speaker Arch decreed that any further outbursts this session would be dealt with by having both balconies “cleared” because— Equity.

That might as well have been an engraved invitation to the agitators in the Rotunda.

Three days before the final vote on LB 574, there was a round of debate and amendments. Due to the loss of legislative time from the filibuster, the amended abortion bill was added to the bill about transgender procedures. They were then advanced as one bill.

Danna Seevers watched as agitators entered both balconies. When they created the inevitable disturbance, both balconies were cleared. The bill proponents were dumped into an angry and dangerous mob in the Rotunda, while Senators were escorted out of a back door to safety. Staff got police escorts, but citizens had to find their own way out. The Capitol was finally cleared by State Patrol hours later.

Seevers Anticipates Problems

When May 19, the day of the anticipated final vote arrived, Seevers, accompanied by her septuagenarian mother, knew to take precautions.

She had identified allies that could help them evacuate, in case there was a repeat of the previous session. She arrived early, parking a distance away, identifying how to get safely to a restroom if needed. She watched every person who entered her balcony, ready to challenge anyone who wasn’t familiar. It had been months of work to support the bills that would be passed this day, and she was not going to miss it. She had promised a friend who had transgender children that she would be there to see it through. She knew the agitators would be disruptive again, yet she was convinced that if her balcony was calm and respectful, they would not be thrown out.

Then Equity Happened

Just like the meme where no one sees over the fence, no one saw the bill get passed.

The agitators in the opposite balcony did their thing, raining what appears to be used feminine hygiene products onto the Senators below.

Senator Arch, the House Speaker, ordered all spectators to be cleared.

One person in the proponent balcony posted this: (Red Coats are the Sargeant-at-Arms team that help visitors and enforce rules.)

The Red Coat lady on our side told me they have to be fair. “Can you imagine what would happen if we let your side stay and made them leave?” My response: “we made no sounds or outburts. We remained silent. We shouldn’t be punished for what they did. They act out because they know there are no consequences for their behavior.” She just shrugged her shoulders.

Seevers refused to leave and was arrested. It was over 5 hours before she was released to her family. After months of supporting her bills, she missed the moment she had waited for.

But Seevers might have been the safest person at the Capitol that day as 3 officers escorted her out. The rest of the spectators, including Seevers’ mother, were released into this:

These are a few of the posts from citizens caught in the chaos:

I had Danna’s mom with me. I asked a Sheriff if he really expected us to go downstairs with the opponents. They were intimidating people and they knew it. He said he didn't care where we went but we couldn't stay there.

The State Patrol has cleared both balconies of proponents and opponents. The leftist protestors have claimed this as a win, the entire second floor of the Capitol was cleared. Elderly folks and those who were calmly seated in the proponent balcony are now being subjected to the mob.

In the Rotunda, the crowd has been relentlessly screaming. Anyone who is supportive of 574 is pointed out and blocked with signs, prevented from moving freely.

Emptying both balconies gave the disrupters a win. Where are we all supposed to safely go? I politely asked the State Patrolman that question, because we weren’t going to stand in the Rotunda. They motioned for us to go up the steps to the landing. We gathered there for a few minutes while they arrested Danna. Then they cleared the upper landing and made us all descend into the hell of the Rotunda. Many of us found refuge in Senators’ offices or left the Capitol entirely. The Senators’ staffs were working in their offices with the doors locked.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As this is written a week later, there are still accusations flying back and forth. The bill was signed into law and Legislators have moved on to other topics. But the citizens who supported this bill feel that they have survived a battle. One of them is still facing legal charges for exercising her Constitutional rights. Will her charges miraculously disappear the way they did for the “Shame, Shame” lady? Doubtful. Even in Nebraska, justice favors the rule breakers over the law abiding.

The Red Coats and the Capitol Police are good people, they did what they were ordered to do. But everyone involved with Capitol security needs to learn from this.

It is not “fair” to punish everyone equally for the actions of a few. “Can you imagine what would happen?” is an admission of fear and weakness on the part of the Capitol Red Coats.

Agitators should be removed from proceedings and “banned and barred” as the rules indicate. The law abiding in both balconies should be left unmolested.

One side of a political issue should not be allowed to commandeer the Rotunda for their intimidation purposes.

Senators who incite violence should be expelled.

Above all, there has to be a rule against forcing innocent bystanders into an angry mob. Twice!

By some miracle, and the second amendment, no one was seriously injured during this controversy. Don’t expect that luck to last forever.