Protesters gather near the main Omaha post office at Pacific and 11th Streets on Saturday. Some of the signs called for the postmaster general to resign and accused President Trump of corruption.
A group of about 50 protesters gathered Saturday morning to support the U.S. Postal Service near the main Omaha post office.
The event, organized by the group Indivisible Nebraska, took place on the same day that the House voted to approve $25 billion in emergency funds for the Postal Service and to reverse recent cutbacks made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, including slowed delivery times and the removal of collection boxes across the country.
Kevin Gibbs, chairman of Indivisible Nebraska, which opposes President Donald Trump, said the changes are particularly concerning in the middle of a pandemic and an election year. The Postal Service is important for groups like seniors and rural Americans, he said, and its function is vital to the health of democracy.
Gibbs described the recent changes as boldfaced political gamesmanship.
“No politician should be allowed to use the post office for their own political gain,” he said.
Each collection box in a community matters, Gibbs said, especially in low-income and rural areas. Trust in the Postal Service is also key, he said, because concerns about the Trump administration suppressing mail-in voter turnout are high.
“Anything that makes it harder to vote is an attack on our democracy,” he said.
Gibbs said the protest had a stronger showing than organizers expected, which he attributed to the nonpartisan nature of the Postal Service. Demonstrators held signs calling for DeJoy to resign and accusing Trump of corruption.
Mark Zimmerman said he attended the rally because he believes that the Postal Service has been treated unfairly by politicians for years. The service is essential to our nation, he said, because it ships goods such as medication at a low cost across the entire country.
Zimmerman said that the Postal Service’s struggles have been due to setbacks including pension requirements and competition, rather than mismanagement, and that it must be preserved.
“It’s a public good,” he said, “especially now when people are more dependent on it than ever.”
Our best staff photos of August 2020
Union Omaha
Union Omaha's Elma N'For, left, celebrates a goal by Sebastian Contreras in the first half to tie the match against Forward Madison FC.
Ernie Chambers
About 100 people show their support for State Sen. Ernie Chambers on Thursday, the last day of his last legislative session, outside the Nebraska State Capitol.
Softball Preview
Papillion-La Vista pitcher Jordyn Bahl, left, and catcher Brooke Dumont have played together since they were freshmen, going 106-4 in their first three seasons. “They know what the other one is thinking without having to say anything. They’ve always had that,” coach Todd Petersen said.
Homeschool
Tesla Badger, 4, plays at home, which is also the village co-op. Her mom, Crystal Badger, volunteered use of her home in exchange for child care. Mary Ensz created this mural on the basement wall.
Education Co-op
Sofia Jawed-Wessel makes time for art every day with her children, from left, Laith, Haizel and Paloma. The family keeps to a tight schedule.
Old Market Protest
Connie Jones, of Omaha, and about 20 other protesters call for defunding the police and supporting Black Lives Matter in the Old Market in Omaha on Friday, August 7, 2020.
Old Market Protest
About 20 protesters call for defunding the police and supporting Black Lives Matter in the Old Market in Omaha on Friday, August 7, 2020.
Disc Golf
Ben Peters takes advantage of the mild weather to practice his disc golf putting at Elmwood park on Monday.
Educators Mask Mandate
Bruce Jones, right, a middle school teacher, and his husband, Taylor Frank, carry signs during a Monday demonstration at Memorial Park by Omaha area educators demanding a mask mandate before returning to classrooms.
Educators Mask Mandate
More than a hundred people attend a Monday demonstration at Memorial Park by Omaha area educators demanding a mask mandate before returning to classrooms.
Bounce House
Charlotte Nunn, right, celebrates her 4th birthday with a bounce house and her sister, Lydia Nunn, 2, in their Omaha front yard on Monday.
Union Omaha
The sun sets over the North Texas SC vs. Union Omaha soccer game at Werner Park in Papillion on Saturday, August 01, 2020. It was Union Omaha's inaugural home game, part of a shortened season because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Union Omaha on won the game 1-0.
Union Omaha
Union Omaha players celebrate on the field following the North Texas SC vs. Union Omaha soccer game at Werner Park in Papillion on Saturday, August 01, 2020. It was Union Omaha's inaugural home game, part of a shortened season because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Union Omaha won the game 1-0.
Union Omaha
Union Omaha players kneel and raise their fists during a moment of silence for racial justice before the start of the North Texas SC vs. Union Omaha soccer game at Werner Park in Papillion on Saturday, August 01, 2020. It was Union Omaha's inaugural home game, part of a shortened season because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Union Omaha won the game 1-0.
Union Omaha
Union Omaha's Rashid Nuhu and North Texas SC's Ronaldo Damus come down to the ground after colliding in midair near the goal in the North Texas SC vs. Union Omaha soccer game at Werner Park in Papillion on Saturday.
Pinnacle Bank Championship
Ryan Schaake, left, watches his son Alex Schaake putt on the first hole during the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek on Thursday.
Pinnacle Bank Championship
Seth Reeves kisses his trophy after winning the Pinnacle Bank Championship on Sunday, August 02, 2020.
Sourdough bread baking
Ferial Pearson uses rice flour to highlight her intricate designs on sourdough bread. The UNO professor has been making bread while at home social distancing.
Grind It
Jared Beckenhauer skateboards in Seymour Smith Park on Wednesday in Omaha.
Metro Baseball
The hat falls off of Five Points Bank's Danny Spongberg , left, after he tagged out KB Building Services' Cole Payton after Payton got picked off in the third inning during the American Legion Metro tournament final at Millard South on Friday, July 31, 2020. It was one of two pickoffs in the inning.
Metro Baseball
Five Points Bank players celebrate their 6-3 win over KB Building Services in the Metro postseason tournament final Friday at Millard South. “It was nice, especially for our five seniors,” Five Points Bank coach Pat Mooney said.
Search
Omaha Police Officer Dan Torres and his police dog Peace search for evidence Friday after a man was fatally shot near 45th and Miami Streets.
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August 23, 2020 at 03:45AM
https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/postal-service-rally-aims-to-send-a-message-to-public-officials/article_0a628060-4828-56df-95cc-79391958b6ed.html
Postal Service rally aims to send a message to public officials - Omaha World-Herald
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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