Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said Friday that the curfew she put in place for Saturday night could be lifted depending on how events unfold in the city Friday night.
On Thursday, Stothert ordered a curfew from 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday nights to 6:00 AM the following morning.
“We’re going to see how Friday goes, throughout Friday night," Stothert told 6 News. "If we have peaceful protests — which we want — I may lift the one for Saturday, but let’s see how this goes,” she said.
The mayor’s announcement came on the heels of police having to take action to break up crowds who outstayed the 8:00 PM curfew earlier this week.
Stothert said she enacted the curfew for this weekend based on discussions with Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer that there may be large gatherings this weekend. “The businesses downtown, for example, were very supportive of (the curfew)," Stothert said. "They’re very afraid of what’s going to happen tonight and tomorrow. They’re leaving their windows boarded up, so we wanted that extra layer of protection.”
But this time around, the curfew may be only for one night. “We’re going to see how Friday goes throughout Friday night. If we have peaceful protests, which we want, I may lift the one for Saturday but let’s see how this goes,” she said. “The businesses downtown, for example, were very supportive of it. They’re very afraid of what’s going to happen tonight and tomorrow, they’re leaving their windows boarded up, so we wanted that extra layer of protection.”
Stothert says the 10:00 PM curfew gives protesters plenty of time to have their voices and concerns heard. She says she doesn’t want police to have to take action to clear the streets but says they will if the curfew is ignored.
Civil unrest last weekend resulted in curfews in Omaha and other communities across the area. The mayor tells 6 News that depending on how things go tonight may result in her rescinding the curfew for Saturday night. She’s taking a "wait and see" approach at this time.