LINCOLN- Four of six people who were jailed during protests at the Nebraska Capitol on May 19 over a bill combining a stricter abortion ban with new restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors face criminal charges in Lancaster County. Benjamin Buras, 40, and Sara B. Crawford, 34, both of Lincoln, are scheduled to be in court Thursday. Mar Lee, 25, of Lincoln, and Danna Seevers, 56, of Seward, were accepted into pretrial diversion programs.

The commotion after the vote, which also included chanting and shouting, prompted Speaker John Arch to clear out the Legislature’s balconies. Prosecutors filed no charges against Lucia Salinas, 24, of Omaha and Maghie Miller-Jenkins, 36, of Lincoln, threw tampons and feminine pads from over a balcony railing onto the legislative floor, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The Patrol had cited Salinas and Miller-Jenkins for disturbing the peace and obstructing a government operation. Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon offered no immediate explanation of his decision. No charges were filed against a legislative staffer who several witnesses had said shoved someone with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska during the protests.

On Thursday, Crawford received permission from Lancaster County Judge Matt Acton to enter a pretrial diversion program. She was charged with obstructing a peace officer after she tried to push past a Nebraska State Patrolman. Buras' lawyer requested that he be allowed to enter a pretrial diversion program as well, but the request is still pending as of Friday. Buras was charged with with resisting arrest.

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