and confidential ways to bring grievances, she said, adding that the workplace should be deeply sanitized.

“We are asking the businesses to put people over profit,” Helzer said. “If we can’t close the plants, we want to make sure the people are protected.”

Terry Wegner of Grand Island said he took part in the protest because he knows people who work at JBS and the community is concerned about how the virus is spreading. As of Friday, there had been 760 cases of the coronavirus in the Central Health District, which includes Hall, Hamilton and Merrick counties.

“These workers are taking chances, while I’m sitting at home,” Wegner said. “They deserve all the support they can get.”

He said the workers also need more testing for the virus to keep people safe.

“I don’t know if the state is paying enough attention to stop the spread or the virus here,” Wegner said.

“The people working out there are not the problem,” he added. “Nebraska needs to do more testing and do everything possible to keep the community safe.

“What happens on the edge of town, soon happens all over town.”