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BlackOut Omaha founder "violated" by OPD research on life, heightened attention on planned event

Posted at 7:04 PM, Feb 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-26 20:04:03-05

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Throughout the summer, Brianna Full worked to organize BlackOut Fest, an event that never happened due to the coronavirus.

Internal Omaha Police Department emails uncovered by the ACLU of Nebraska show Full was researched during the processes, ultimately concluding that neither Full or planned speakers posed a risk of violence.

Full said she was "violated" by the research and is upset that despite finding nothing concerning, OPD planned to have officers around the event, and noted that "if we get intel that this could go sideways - plan on having RDF and SWAT called out."

She said the emails show the attention on the event was based on her message, not a real threat.

In a Thursday statement, the interim Omaha city attorney, while refuting the characterization of the emails as "surveillance," noted that some organizers "chose not to give the Omaha Police Department any advance notice" of events, so they reviewed public social media posts of events to prepare.

Full said she was cooperative, and because of that, was "shocked" by the email about her.

See yesterday's report for more information by clicking the link below.

ACLU of Nebraska: Omaha police surveilled Black activists in 2020

On Thursday, we also spoke with Bear Alexander of Problac Omaha about the ACLU's email release:

"It solidified my suspicions": Bear Alexander talks ACLU email release

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