A violent protest erupted after Nebraska lawmakers rejected the demands of pro-trans and pro-abortion protesters, resulting in one police officer being punched by an activist.
One protester was arrested after trying to push past a Nebraska state trooper, while another was pro-trans activist was arrested for allegedly interfering with troopers during the violent protest.
One woman could be seen punching a police officer.
Watch:
A total of six people were arrested following the demonstrations at the state Capitol in Lincoln.
The anger flared after lawmakers passed a ban on most abortions after a baby is 12 weeks old, including restrictions on transgender procedures for anyone under the age of 19.
Protesters also threw what appeared to be bloody tampons from the gallery, which cleared the galley.
Protesters then chanted “shame, shame” in the Capitol’s rotunda.
Meanwhile, pop singer Lizzo spoke out against the bill during a concert, with one legislator rebuking lawmakers for their votes.
“My thanks to our State Troopers and Capitol Security Team for keeping our senators, legislative staff members, and our citizenry safe while they gathered to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Republican Gov. Jim Pillen posted on Twitter.
Pillen, who said he would sign the measure, also released a statement:
“All children deserve a chance to grow and live happy, fruitful lives. This includes pre-born boys and girls, and it includes children struggling with their gender identity. These kids deserve the opportunity to grow and explore who they are and want to be, and they can do so without making irreversible decisions that should be made when they are fully grown,” he said.
Democratic state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh decried the bill with an erratic ramble, declaring, “We need trans people! We love trans people!”
Watch
Republican state Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who authored the bill’s provisions, said it was designed to help protect youth from making mistakes they could regret in adulthood.
“It does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that we hate them. Quite to the contrary: We love them,” she said.
