At the press conference, South Sioux City resident Frank LaMere, a Winnebago activist, watched from the back of the room. He questioned Kleine on the complicity of the two officers who were also involved but were not charged.

“Anyone who stood there and said nothing — good God, that’s complicit, if you ask me.”

He also had sharp words for Chief Todd Schmaderer.

“(Bearheels) died at the hands of the Omaha Police Department. If we’re not going to serve and protect, take that out of your mission statement.”

Later, at the UNO event, topics of discussion included the representation of Native Americans in the media and the lack of education among non-Natives about the Native community.

Three panelists fielded questions before the group of about 85, made up of Native Americans and non-Natives. The conversation turned to Bearheels.

“It was heartbreaking to watch what happened,” said Cassie Rhoads-Carroll, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, referring to the video of Bearheels’ encounter with police.