Updated: May 20, 2021
Omaha, NE—Approximately 600 Republicans were on hand at the Douglas County Republican Party’s annual Elephant Remembers Dinner as Anthony Conner, President of the Omaha Police Officers Association, delivered remarks about the recent change overtaking the Democrat Party locally and nationwide.
Conner spoke to the anti-law enforcement sentiment overtaking Democrat leadership and the increasing hostility to principles of basic law and order. For Conner, the changes against law enforcement became too much to stomach. During his address at the dinner, which was honoring Sheriff Tim Dunning, Conner publicly announced his change of party affiliation.
“I was proud to join with hundreds of other Republicans to help welcome Anthony to the Nebraska GOP,” said Chairman Dan Welch. “He is one of many hundreds of individuals who the Democratic Party is leaving behind in their hard charge to the left. If Democrats continue to attack police, defend violent criminals and make our communities less safe, these departures are just going to intensify,” he concluded.
Conner is the third high profile Democrat to depart the Nebraska Democrat Party and join the Nebraska Republican Party in the last 8 months, joining Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine and Omaha Councilwoman Colleen Brennan.