LINCOLN, Neb. – A community organizer and former candidate for the Nebraska Legislature has been escorted from the Capitol.

Following the passage of LB77, which allows for permitless concealed carry of firearms in Nebraska, Melody Vaccaro was ejected without incident from the balcony after causing a disruption.

Vaccaro, who is the executive director of the nonprofit Nebraskans Against Gun Violence, yelled “shame” from the balcony while pointing at lawmakers. 

Officials said the President of the Legislature, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, ordered the clearing of the balcony and 75 people were removed from the balcony. This was reportedly the first time in years that the balcony had to be cleared due to a legislative disruption.

According to Vaccaro, she was issued a written order by the Nebraska State Patrol that permanently bans her from the Unicameral.

According to NSP, Vaccaro was issued a trespassing warning by them that requires her to notify NSP before she enters the State Capitol again. NSP said no other citation was issued

NAGV said in a press release Wednesday that it “fully supports her act of civil disobedience and her right to political speech.”

According to NGAV, the lifetime ban was not a criminal citation, and it cannot be appealed. 

According to NSP, "an appeals process for this administrative action exists under Nebraska Administrative Code 272 Ch. 1, pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, found at Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-901, et. seq."

“NAGV believes that the events in the Unicameral today convey an alarming disdain for the health and rights of the Nebraska public,” the organization said in its press release. “Our children are scared of gun violence, for good reason, yet the Legislature revoked all municipal gun ordinances and passed permitless concealed carry today as teenagers and elementary schoolers watched helplessly from the balcony. Then the same Unicameral that allows heavily armed men to roam its halls then banned and barred a gun control activist for a speech act.”

NSP said they will be providing Vaccaro with more information about the trespass warning and appeals process.