Words have meaning...

Work can be frustrating. Some days it's just annoying callers, like when AFP (Americans for Prosperity) pushes calls from constituents who have no idea what they're calling you about..."I'm opposed to that bill. The one about taxes/guns/roads/you called me about." Ugh. Some days there are filibusters on the legislative floor regarding intensely boring crap, like LB242 which is about...wait for it...dry beans! No, really! 

Then there are days like Wednesday, when Senator Ernie Chambers says something amazingly offensive. Sadly it's not an unusual occurrence, but this time he really crossed a line. Technically it was last Friday during a hearing, but it hit national media on Wednesday. 

What hit the media, you ask?

State Sen. Ernie Chambers said during a legislative hearing on gun bills Friday that you don’t have to go halfway around the world to find an ISIS mentality. It can be found in America because police terrorize blacks every day.

“My ISIS is the police,” Chambers said, adding police can get away with shooting people if they “think” they’re going to do something — like pull a weapon.

“The police are licensed to kill us — children, old people,” he said.
After his comments were reported by Nebraska Watchdog and picked up by national media outlets, several Nebraska officials called on him to apologize and a senator said lawmakers are considering censuring him.

Chambers then added fuel to the fire, saying if he had a gun, he would use it on police, not his political opponents. 
“If I was going to carry a weapon, it wouldn’t be against you, it wouldn’t be against these people who come here that I might have a dispute with. Mine would be for the police,” he said. “And if I carried a gun I’d want to shoot him first and then ask questions later, like they say the cop ought to do.” 

Think it's an exaggeration? There's audio included in the Watchdog.com article.

Such comments are not only unbecoming, but unacceptable. Normally his behavior is ignored, but thank God this time Senator Beau McCoy called him out on and demanded an apology. 

Nebraska lawmakers are accustomed to Chambers’ vitriolic speeches, and rarely call him out, perhaps because he often retaliates by targeting them and their bills. But on Wednesday, McCoy took the unusual step of confronting Chambers.

“It’s appalling, and I’ve had enough,” McCoy said.

He said he first heard about Chambers’ remarks on Wednesday, when the story went viral.

“This is the first time in my time I’m going to stand up and take on Senator Chambers for something he said,” outside the chamber, McCoy said on the floor of the Legislature Wednesday, calling on Chambers to apologize to police and members of the military.

“What’s going on with ISIS today is terrifying, and I can’t believe that Senator Chambers would say that and try to draw some sort of a parallel,” he said. “It’s tragic, what’s going on in north Omaha with violence, particularly gun violence, but it’s not a comparison to what’s going on with ISIL and ISIS.”

Watchdog also provided audio of Senator McCoy's admonition. 

On Facebook I occasionally post comments Senator Chambers makes on the floor that are either funny or downright don't make sense. But this totally crosses a line...and is neither amusing nor senseless. As the daughter of a retired LAPD lieutenant, I found his comments to be highly offensive. As Senator Chambers likes to point out, words do have meaning...and as a respected leader of his community, his words could literally cost a life.

Thankfully other officials are stepping up and calling Senator Chambers out too. Our newly appointed Attorney General, Doug Peterson, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer are weighing in as well. 

“Law enforcement officers put their life on the line every day to protect all of us,” Peterson said in a press statement. “Both the officers and their families deserve our utmost respect, appreciation and support. They also deserve an apology from Chambers.” 
- Attorney General Doug Peterson 

“Senator Chambers’ attack on police officers shows total disregard for public safety. Why would any elected official state if he had a gun he would shoot a police officer? The senator should be looking for ways to improve public safety, not comparing police officers to terrorists. He owes an apology not only to Omaha police officers but to every citizen of Omaha.”  - Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert

On Thursday Governor Pete Ricketts issued a press release, asking for Senator Chambers apology. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2015

GOV. RICKETTS STATES SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCMENT
Calls Sen. Chambers’ remarks “irresponsible”

Lincoln – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts called on Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha to issue a public apology following unacceptable comments he made during a committee hearing:

“As public officials, we are held to a higher standard, and we should be. No one should ever suggest the use of violence against law enforcement officials. I have reviewed the transcript from the Judiciary Committee hearing in question, and Senator Chambers’ comments were out of line. Words matter. At a time when we need to develop better relationships between law enforcement and our communities, Senator Chambers’ comments are irresponsible and only promote distrust and the potential for violence. I urge Senator Chambers to issue a full apology for his remarks and to condemn all violence against law enforcement.”

Yesterday, Governor Ricketts tweeted his support for law enforcement. He encourages Nebraskans to tweet their support using the #SupportBlue hashtag. Twitter users can follow @GovRicketts for updates.

Thursday morning was spent listening to various senators speaking on the mic...some asking Senator Chambers for an apology, some acknowledging their disappointment in his comments while supporting his right to free speech, some saying this outrage was a dangerous precedent to set, since there are plenty of occasions when senators vehemently disagree about their fundamental beliefs. 

Watchdog.com posted another extensive article about the morning goings on.

For two hours, senators took to the microphone to talk about what they thought of Chambers’ comments, which were made last week during a legislative hearing on a gun bill that would allow people to carry concealed guns in bars.

State Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha led the charge, saying he’ll stand up every day and demand a “strong denouncement” and apology, noting Thursday morning that two police officers were killed in other states in the past 48 hours.

“What he’s said is a public safety risk to the people of Nebraska and those who wear a uniform,” McCoy said.

State Sen. Lydia Brasch said she was dismayed, saddened and confused after reading the transcript.

“It is not right to compare police to ISIS and what has happened,” she said. “The horror internationally — the threat to our people.”

State Sen. Jim Smith said regardless of whether Chambers’ comments were reported “in context,” lawmakers have an obligation to strengthen communities and show gratitude to those who protect them.

“There are simply no comparisons in our society to the barbaric attacks by ISIS,” he said.

Sen. Joni Craighead and about a dozen senators showed their support for law enforcement during the noon break, by holding up “#SupportBlue” signs.

I believe an apology it entirely in order. I respect the right to free speech, but not when it puts others lives at risk. After Ferguson, several police officers were killed around the country just because they wore a uniform. Words do matter...and comments like this can lead to the same outcome.

A surprise to no one, Senator Chambers is refusing to apologize. He made it clear that he thinks this attempt to suppress his right to say what he likes is par for the course. So if they think their opposition and anger at his comments upsets him, they're wrong. He's not afraid of them. He says what he says and means what he means. 

The state lawmaker froma Omaha defiantly stood Thursday on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature and rejected many of his colleagues’ calls for him to apologize — or even resign — for comparing cops to ISIS terrorists and suggesting he’d shoot a cop if he weren’t nonviolent and had a gun.

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant,” Chambers said.

He said the irony is that lawmakers were discussing freedom of expression on Wednesday, and said it was ignorant and “idle talk” to suggest taking any kind of legal action, since lawmakers are immune from civil or criminal liability in connection with anything they say in the Legislature.

“I’m not going to resign,” he said. “I’m not going to apologize. Why do you think I would apologize?”

“And you think that your opposition to me is going to do anything other than inflame me?” he said. “I will stand alone and I don’t mind it. I’m accustomed to it.”


Needless to say, it has not been a good week. 

TGIF. 

~ Katie