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Ernest William Chambers (born July 10, 1937)[1] is an American politician and civil rights activist who represented North Omaha's 11th District in the Nebraska State Legislature from 1971 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2021. He could not run in 2020 due to term limits.[2]

Key Information

Chambers is the longest-serving state senator in Nebraska history, having represented North Omaha for 46 years.[3] For most of his career, Chambers was the only nonwhite senator.[4] He is the only African-American to have run for governor and the first to have run for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska history.[5][6] For years he was the only openly atheist member of any state legislature in the United States.[7]

Early life

[edit]

Chambers was born in the Near North Side neighborhood[5] of Omaha, Nebraska,[8] to Malcolm Chambers, a local minister,[5] and Lillian Chambers. His father's family originally came from Mississippi and his mother's family originally came from Louisiana.[8] He has six siblings,[9] who were all born in Omaha.[8]

In 1955, Chambers graduated from Omaha Tech High School. In 1959, he graduated from Creighton University with a B.A. in history, with minors in Spanish and philosophy. He attended Creighton University School of Law in the early 1960s and completed his degree in 1979.

He refused to join the Nebraska State Bar Association, so was unable to practice law; in 2015, he explained his refusal on the grounds that he had earned the right to practice by passing law school, and should not have to pay the Bar Association dues as well.[10][9]

Career

[edit]

Omaha Post Office

[edit]

In 1963, when Chambers was 25, he worked for the Omaha Post Office. He has said he was fired for insubordination because he spoke out against the management at the Post Office calling the black staff "boys". He picketed the Postmaster General's speech in Omaha with a sign that read, "I spoke against discrimination in the Omaha Post Office and was fired."[5][11]

Summer 1966 riots

[edit]

During a series of heat waves in 1966, there were two disturbances in Omaha. In July, the Nebraska National Guard was summoned to restore order after police and black teenagers clashed three nights in a row.[12] In early August, a series of riots occurred over three nights. Chambers worked as a spokesperson for the community during both conflicts, meeting with Mayor A.V. Sorenson and helping to end the riots.[12]

During this period, Chambers emerged as a prominent leader in the North Omaha community, where he successfully negotiated concessions from the city's leaders on behalf of North Omaha's African-American youth.[12] Chambers headed a committee of the Near North Side Police-Community Relations Council, collated information, and presented numerous complaints about the police to city officials.[12] The African-American community had previously been led by more established organizations like Omaha Urban League and the local chapter of the NAACP, not an emerging young anti-establishment leader like Chambers.[12]

Chambers was working as a barber at the time, and appeared in the Oscar-nominated 1966 documentary film A Time for Burning, where he talked about race relations in Omaha.[13]

Nebraska Legislature

[edit]

In 1968, Chambers ran for a position on the Omaha School Board, but was not elected.[14] He also failed as a write-in candidate for the Omaha City Council in 1969.[5][14] In 1970 he was elected to represent North Omaha's 11th District in the Nebraska State Legislature, replacing George W. Althouse, who had been appointed to replace Senator Edward Danner, who had died in office.[5] During the election, a policeman was killed in a deserted house by a bomb. Two Black Panthers, David Rice and Edward Poindexter, were charged in the death. Chambers protested, as he thought the men had been framed by COINTELPRO.[5]

Chambers was reelected to the Legislature in every ensuing election through 2004. On April 25, 2005, Chambers became Nebraska's longest-serving state senator, having served for more than 35 years.[15] He was not allowed to seek reelection in 2008 because of a constitutional amendment Nebraska voters passed in 2000 that limits Nebraska state legislators to two consecutive four-year terms. But the amendment permits senators to seek reelection to their office after sitting out for four years, and Chambers defeated incumbent Brenda Council in 2012 by a "landslide".[16]

Chambers also ran for the United States Senate in 1988 as a New Alliance Party candidate.[17] He petitioned to be included on the 1974 ballot for governor of Nebraska and also ran for governor in 1994, receiving 0.43% of the vote.[18][19]

South African divestment

[edit]

Because of a legislative resolution Chambers introduced in 1980, Nebraska became the first state to divest from South Africa in protest of apartheid.[20][21] Upon discovering that the University of Nebraska held several hundred gold Krugerrands as an investment, Chambers introduced a nonbinding resolution calling for reinvestment of state pension funds that had been invested directly or indirectly in South Africa.[22] The resolution argued that apartheid was contrary to Nebraska's principles of human rights and legal equality.[23]

Nebraska's divestment caused little immediate change in business practices; David Packard of Hewlett-Packard said, "I'd rather lose business in Nebraska than with South Africa."[24] But other state governments and eventually the federal government followed Nebraska's example, contributing to the end of apartheid. Chambers spearheaded a stronger 1984 law mandating divestment, resulting in Nebraska's public employee pension funds divesting $14.6 million in stocks issued by companies that did business with South Africa. Archbishop Desmond Tutu later visited Lincoln, where he remarked that Nebraska had helped to end apartheid. The state government conspicuously did not invite Chambers to Tutu's speaking event.[25]

Marsh v. Chambers

[edit]
See also: Marsh v. Chambers

Chambers filed a lawsuit in 1980 attempting to end the Legislature's practice of beginning its session with a prayer offered by a state-supported chaplain, arguing that it was unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.[26] The district court held that the prayer did not violate the Constitution, but that state support for the chaplain did. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals held that both practices violated the Constitution,[27] but in Marsh v. Chambers (1983), the Supreme Court held by a 6–3 vote that both practices were constitutional because of the United States' "unique history".[28]

1986 NCAA student athletes as state employees

[edit]

Chambers has promoted recognizing NCAA student athletes as state employees since the 1980s, arguing that they are generating revenue for their universities without any legal benefits for doing so, which encourages illegal payments and gifts. A bill on this issue was passed by the Legislature but was unable to overcome the governor's veto. After it was revealed that requiring student athletes to be recognized as state employees would jeopardize any university's NCAA standing, the language of the bill was changed so that a university could allow for players to be paid a stipend, after which the bill passed and was signed by the governor in 2003.[29]

1989 Franklin scandal

[edit]

According to The New York Times, unidentified people present at a closed meeting reported that Chambers claimed he heard credible reports of "boys and girls, some of them from foster homes, who had been transported around the country by airplane to provide sexual favors, for which they were rewarded."[30]

Investigating what became known as the Franklin child prostitution ring allegations, a Nebraska grand jury was convened to investigate the allegations and possibly return indictments. Eventually, the grand jury ruled the entire matter was "a carefully crafted hoax," although they failed to identify the perpetrators of the hoax.[31]

Chambers repeatedly sought to outlaw hunting mountain lions, saying "these animals should not be killed for the love of killing."[32]

1993 LGBT anti-discrimination bill

[edit]

Nebraska's LGBT community has considered Chambers an ally since the 1970s.[33] In 1993, he co-sponsored a bill to prohibit employment discrimination by sexual orientation.[34] The bill faced fierce opposition. Opponents of the anti-discrimination legislation formed a Nebraska chapter of the Traditional Values Coalition and brought activist Lou Sheldon to Lincoln to organize antigay rallies outside the Capitol building.[35]

Despite the opposition, Chambers sponsored another LGBT anti-discrimination bill in 1995.[36] He continued to support similar measures throughout his career in the legislature. None of them have been successful.[37]

2006 Omaha Public Schools controversy

[edit]

In April 2006, Chambers introduced legislative bill (LB) 1024, an amendment to a bill that would divide the Omaha Public Schools district into three different districts.[38] The bill and its amendment were created in response to an effort by the district to "absorb a string of largely white schools that were within the Omaha city limits but were controlled by suburban or independent districts."[39] Omaha Schools claimed that the usurpation was necessary to avoid financial and racial inequity, but supporters of LB 1024 contested the district's expansion, favoring more localized control. The bill received national attention and some critics called it "state-sponsored segregation".[40]

LB 641, passed in 2007, repealed and superseded LB 1024, restoring pre-2006 Omaha-area school district boundaries, after which a "learning community" was created to equalize student achievement in Douglas and Sarpy counties.[41][42]

2007 lawsuit against God

[edit]
See also: Lawsuits against God
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Some members of the Nebraska legislature attempted to ban frivolous lawsuits from Nebraska's court system in 2007. Chambers believed that this attempt was misguided, and that access to the court system should not be restricted. To dramatize his point that the court system must be entirely open, Chambers filed a lawsuit against God[43] in Douglas County district court in September 2007.[44] It argued that God has caused "widespread death, destruction, and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."[43]

Nebraska media inaccurately reported that Chambers's lawsuit against God was intended as an ironic protest against frivolous lawsuits. Chambers clarified that, on the contrary, his lawsuit against God "emphasized that attempts by the Legislature to prohibit the filing of any lawsuit would run afoul of the Nebraska Constitution's guarantee that the doors to the courthouse must be open to everyone."[45]

The Westboro Baptist Church filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit arguing that Chambers did not have standing to sue, and that he was "fully deserving of the outpourings of God's fierce wrath." In response, Chambers voiced disagreement with the church but argued that the church's access to the court system must be protected, just like his.[46]

The lawsuit was dismissed in October 2008 because a summons notifying God of the lawsuit could not be delivered to the defendant, who has no listed address. Chambers countered that, because of God's omniscience, God had been notified,[47] but decided not to pursue the suit further.[45]

Capital punishment

[edit]

Chambers is a firm opponent of the death penalty, and introduced a bill to repeal Nebraska's capital punishment law at the start of each legislative session, 36 times over 40 years.[48][49] The bill, LB268,[50] passed the legislature in 1979 but could not overcome Governor Charles Thone's veto; the issue remained a primary focus of his while in office.[51]

In 2015, Chambers again introduced LB268. The measure passed the legislature over Governor Pete Ricketts's veto. Following the veto, a petition drive was undertaken to reject the bill and maintain capital punishment. Enough signatures were secured to suspend LB268 until the November 2016 general election; in the election, 60% of the votes cast favored rejecting the repeal and keeping the death penalty.[52][53][54]

Assorted legislation

[edit]
  • Chambers has long advocated on behalf of David Rice and Ed Poindexter, who were convicted of the murder of an Omaha police officer; Amnesty International considers them political prisoners.
  • Often clashing with fellow senators, Chambers has taken on several issues of concern to rural Nebraskans during his tenure, such as a bill requiring landowners to manage the population of black-tailed prairie dogs on their property and a proposed constitutional amendment to preserve the right to fish, trap and hunt in the state. Chambers described the latter measure as one of the most "asinine, simple-minded pieces of trash" ever considered by the legislature.[55] In 2004 Chambers co-authored an opinion piece with U.S. Representative Tom Osborne opposing a set of initiatives that would allow casino gambling and slot machines in Nebraska.[56] Chambers also opposed proposed funding of the state's ethanol plant incentive programs, calling them "a boondoggle".[57]
  • Chambers has long supported feminist goals. For example, he argued forcefully in favor of a law against sexually assaulting one's spouse in 1975 that made Nebraska the first US state to outlaw marital assault.[58]
  • In 2006, Chambers withdrew support from two tax incentive bills that would have provided funding for Omaha and Lincoln civic building projects. He said he withdrew support because Omaha business leaders had insulted the legislature and the North Omaha community he represents by criticizing the passage of LB 1024. He was also insulted by the Omaha City Council's refusal to name a North Omaha park after him despite that neighborhood's request to do so.[59]
  • In 2015, Chambers introduced LB473, opposing the Keystone XL pipeline.[60]
  • In 2016, Chambers filibustered a bill that would have changed Nebraska's congressional district method of electoral college vote splitting into a winner-take-all system like that of other US states. Because the vote-splitting method was preserved, one district in Nebraska assigned an electoral college vote to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.[61]

Outreach activities

[edit]
  • On November 4, 2008, Chambers was elected to the new Douglas and Sarpy Counties' Learning Community Board; he was sworn in during 2009.
  • Chambers hosted a weekly call-in public-access television cable TV show on Omaha's Community Telecast, Inc. (CTI22), broadcast on Cox Channel 22.[62]
  • In 2014, after ending his regular Omaha Star column, Chambers said he was going to write a blog.[63]
  • Chambers distributes "Erniegrams" to other legislators that consist of typed poems and commentary about recent events and legislative topics in the current session, as well as photocopied articles and political cartoons of note, which are sometimes posted by other legislators on Twitter as Chambers does not use computers.[64][65]

Controversy

[edit]

Term limit law

[edit]

In 2000, a term-limit amendment was passed that essentially forced Chambers—and half of Nebraska's state senators[66]—out of office in 2008.[67][68][69] The amendment required legislators sit out one term, after which they could run for election. In 2012, Chambers was once again elected to represent north Omaha's 11th district in the Nebraska Unicameral, defeating Brenda Council by 3,408 votes, with 10,336 votes cast. He was forced to sit out the 2020 election due to the same law.[16]

"My ISIS is the police"

[edit]

On March 20, 2015, during a Judiciary Committee hearing on allowing guns in bars (LB 635), Chambers said, "My ISIS is the police."[70][71] He said his comments were intended to criticize the failure to prosecute Alvin Lugod, the Omaha police officer who fatally shot Danny Elrod on February 23.[72] Although fellow senators did not react to his comments during the hearing,[73] there was backlash. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer responded, "The comments that Senator Ernie Chambers made today at the Nebraska Unicameral are not only reprehensible but are completely without merit." Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert also criticized Chambers, saying in a press release that he should be looking for ways to improve public safety instead of "comparing police officers to terrorists."[72][74]

Governor Pete Ricketts called Chambers's comments "irresponsible" and asked for an apology.[75] Stothert, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, and Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson were also critical, and the hashtag #supportblue was organized in response to Chambers's comments. Senator David Schnoor of Scribner called for his resignation.[75]

Senator Bob Krist of Omaha said he regretted that he had not immediately protested the remark.[76] Several other senators disagreed with Chambers's opinion but defended his right to express it. Senator Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins remarked, "It's a wonderful opportunity to pile onto Senator Chambers."[76] Chambers said he would continue to be vocal in his criticism of the police and would not apologize.[73]

Residency challenge

[edit]

On November 8, 2016, Chambers was reelected to the legislature, defeating his opponent, John Sciara, by a vote of 7,763 to 1,726. In January 2017, Sciara filled a protest challenge to the legislature, claiming Chambers did not live in the district he was elected to represent and was thus ineligible to hold office. Chambers denied the allegation, calling it "busybody, gossipy, vengeful cud that already has been chewed."[77] On April 20, 2017, Nebraska state senators voted 42-0 to dismiss Sciara's challenge, following the recommendation of a special legislative committee formed to evaluate the claim.[78][79]

Legacy

[edit]
The Ernie Chambers Memorial Hearing Room in the Nebraska Capitol

Chambers is a longtime civil rights activist and the most prominent and outspoken African-American leader in the state.[80] He has been called "the Maverick of Omaha" and the "angriest black man in Nebraska",[80] and has called himself a "Defender of the Downtrodden".[81]

In the 1990s, the apartment complex Strehlow Terrace was renamed Ernie Chambers Court.[82] In 2008, a room at the Nebraska Capitol used for Judiciary Committee meetings was named the Ernie Chambers Memorial Hearing Room.[83]

Awards

[edit]

The Freedom from Religion Foundation awarded Chambers a plaque naming him a "Hero of the First Amendment" at their annual convention in 2005 in Orlando.[84]

Chambers was offered a Distinguished Service award from the American Humanist Association in 2007, but he turned it down.[85] He accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the association in 2016 at its 75th anniversary conference in Chicago.[86]

Personal life

[edit]

Aside from serving in the United States Army, Chambers has lived in Nebraska all his life.[5][87] He is known for his casual attire of blue jeans and short-sleeved sweatshirts,[88] even when in session at the Nebraska Legislature.[89][90] He often brings his dog with him to work.[67] Chambers is a sketch artist, a therapeutic activity he adopted during long legislative sessions.[91]

Chambers was married to Jacklyn Adele (née Lee) Chambers (January 31, 1940 – July 15, 2000), with whom he had four children before they divorced.[68][92]

Atheism

[edit]

Chambers is an atheist. He views Christianity as a tool of oppression that white people use against Black Americans. For example, in 1965 he called the shooting of fellow Omaha native Malcolm X a "brutal, American-Christian style assassination."[93] Chambers is very familiar with and quotes frequently from the Bible, which he jokingly calls "the Bibble".[94]

For years Chambers was the only openly atheist member of any state government in the nation. A 2015 State Legislatures Magazine survey confirmed that he was the only atheist in a state legislature.[7] He was still the only one in the nation in 2017 according to Kurt Andersen in The Atlantic.[95] In 2019 another atheist, Megan Hunt, joined Chambers in the Nebraska legislature.

Despite not being religious, in January 2009 Chambers obtained credentials as a non-denominational minister so he could officiate at weddings.[89]

See also

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References

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Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ernie Chambers

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ernest William Chambers (born July 10, 1937) is an American civil rights activist, barber, and former state legislator who represented North Omaha's 11th district in the Nebraska Legislature for 46 nonconsecutive years from 1971 to 2009 and 2013 to 2021, establishing a record as the longest-serving member in the unicameral body's history. Serving as an independent, Chambers built his legislative career on principled advocacy for criminal justice reform, including opposition to the death penalty, and rigorous enforcement of church-state separation, often through marathon filibusters against bills he viewed as infringing on civil liberties or promoting religious favoritism. Among his notable achievements, he spearheaded the removal of the racially caricatured book Little Black Sambo from school libraries in 1976, orchestrated Nebraska's divestment from apartheid-era South African investments in 1980, and facilitated the creation of the Douglas County Learning Community Board in 2007 to address educational disparities. Chambers' tenure was marked by controversies stemming from his confrontational style and legal challenges, such as his successful 2012 lawsuit overturning term limits to reclaim his seat, reflecting his unyielding commitment to representing the disenfranchised despite frequent clashes with colleagues and critics.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family Origins

Ernie Chambers was born on July 10, 1937, in Omaha, Nebraska's Near North Side neighborhood. His father, Reverend Malcolm Chambers, served as a minister in the and hailed from a family that originated in , having migrated to Omaha during the Great Migration for better opportunities. His mother, Lillian Chambers, came from a family with roots in . Chambers grew up in North Omaha as one of seven children, alongside six siblings who were also born in the city. The family's circumstances reflected the challenges faced by African American migrants in mid-20th-century Omaha, including economic constraints and , though specific personal anecdotes from his childhood remain limited in public records.

Education and Early Influences

Chambers graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1955. He then attended , earning a degree in history in 1959, with minors in Spanish and . Later, he obtained a from School of Law in 1979, though he did not pursue formal bar admission. Born on July 10, 1937, in Omaha's Near North Side neighborhood to Rev. Malcolm Chambers, a minister whose family originated from , and Lillian Chambers, whose roots traced to , Chambers grew up in a religious household amid the and police mistreatment prevalent in North Omaha's African American community. These experiences, including firsthand observation of abuses against residents, fostered his early commitment to challenging systemic racial inequities, which later informed his activism and rhetorical style honed through studies. His time in the following undergraduate studies further exposed him to broader societal dynamics, contributing to his development as a community advocate.

Pre-Political Activism

Employment at Omaha Post Office

Following his completion of undergraduate studies at , Ernie Chambers secured employment at the downtown Omaha branch of the in the early 1960s. During his time there, Chambers observed and confronted instances of by supervisors, who routinely referred to employees using diminutive and demeaning terms such as "boys." Chambers' vocal complaints against these practices resulted in his termination for in the early . In immediate response to the firing, he initiated a personal by outside a prominent Omaha , displaying a handmade sign that declared: "I spoke against in the Omaha and was fired." This solitary demonstration highlighted his early resistance to workplace and marked one of his initial public stands against institutional bias in Omaha's . The episode at the preceded Chambers' transition to barbering, where he rented a chair at a North Omaha shop, but it exemplified the pervasive racial tensions in mid-20th-century employment that fueled his subsequent civil rights advocacy.

Involvement in 1966 Omaha Riots

In the summer of 1966, racial tensions in Omaha's North Omaha neighborhood erupted into riots beginning on 2, triggered by confrontations between approximately 100-200 black youths and police over fireworks in a at 24th and Lake Streets, escalating to rock-throwing, , and over the Fourth of July weekend. These events, rooted in grievances over police brutality, , substandard , and ghettoization, prompted the deployment of the on July 5 and negotiations by A. V. Sorensen with community members, leading to temporary job training and recreation programs amid ongoing volatility. Prior to the July unrest, in March 1966, Chambers, then a in North Omaha, expressed militant views in a local , stating that "a is the only answer" to compel the white power structure to address black grievances and declaring insufficient support for nonviolent efforts among Omaha's black residents. During the riots themselves, Chambers positioned himself as a , meeting with Sorensen and contributing to efforts that helped quell the violence. Chambers' interventions elevated his profile in North Omaha, where he became recognized for stabilizing tensions amid the disorder, though he later contested the characterization of the events as "riots," preferring "protests" despite documented property destruction targeting local businesses. His contemporaneous appearance in the documentary A Time for Burning, filmed amid Omaha's racial strife, featured him critiquing systemic and institutional barriers to integration, further solidifying his activist stature without direct ties to riot initiation.

Legislative Career

Initial Election and Long Tenure

Ernie Chambers was first elected to the Unicameral Legislature in 1970, representing District 11 in North Omaha as an independent candidate. His victory marked him as the first African American from Omaha, following his prominent role in local civil rights activism. Chambers took office in January 1971, refusing to swear the standard in protest against what he viewed as its religious undertones. Chambers secured reelection in every subsequent cycle through 2004, often facing minimal opposition due to strong support in his predominantly African American district. Nebraska's nonpartisan legislative elections and four-year terms enabled his continuous service from 1971 until term limits took effect after the 2006 voter-approved measure limited senators to two consecutive terms. He completed his final pre-limit term in 2008, ending a 38-year uninterrupted tenure. After a four-year absence, Chambers returned to the legislature in 2013 following reelection, serving additional terms until term limits again barred him after 2020. This non-consecutive service totaled 46 years, making him Nebraska's longest-serving state senator. Throughout, his consistent electoral success reflected enduring popularity among constituents, despite his confrontational style and independent stance outside party structures.

Key Policy Initiatives

Chambers consistently sponsored legislation to abolish the death penalty in , introducing bills in nearly every legislative session during his tenure, including Legislative Bill 543 in 2011 and the successful 2015 repeal measure that replaced with without parole before it was overturned by . In , he championed an amendment to Legislative Bill 1024 in 2006, which divided the Omaha Public Schools district into three racially identifiable zones—one predominantly , one Latino, and one white—to grant greater local control to minority communities amid concerns over resource disparities and state intervention. Critics argued the measure entrenched segregation, while Chambers maintained it empowered underrepresented groups against suburban dominance. On international divestment, Chambers co-sponsored pioneering legislation in the 1980s with Senator Steve Fowler to divest Nebraska state funds from companies doing business in apartheid-era , making the state an early leader in such economic pressure tactics. He also advanced measures, including efforts to reform prison policies and address drug criminalization, as outlined in his campaign platforms emphasizing and changes, though many stalled in committee. In electoral reform, Chambers supported maintaining Nebraska's unique district-based allocation of votes, preserving the split-vote system that allows congressional districts to independently award electors.

Procedural Tactics and Filibusters

Chambers frequently employed filibusters and other procedural delays in Nebraska's unicameral to obstruct bills he opposed, leveraging the body's rules that allow extended without a strict time limit unless invoked by a . These tactics, often involving lengthy speeches, readings from , or tangential discussions, earned him a reputation as a master of legislative maneuvering, with colleagues noting that "in Washington they call it a ; in Lincoln, they call it Ernie." A prominent example occurred in May 2005 during debate on a bill (LB 169), where Chambers filibustered by reading poetry and mocking the proposal, aiming to ridicule and delay its passage amid broader gun rights discussions. In April 2016, at age 78, he launched a marathon against multiple bills, vowing to persist until the session's end on April 20, during which he recounted personal anecdotes including a experience and quizzed peers on beer-pouring methods, effectively halting progress on priority legislation. Chambers also used these methods to defend Nebraska's district-based electoral vote allocation, filibustering repeated Republican attempts since the to consolidate to a winner-take-all system, thereby preserving the split-vote mechanism that has influenced presidential elections, such as in and . Another instance involved a 2015 filibuster against a bill (LB 513) permitting work camps near communities, where he slowed proceedings to a crawl in , highlighting concerns over public safety and rehabilitation. Beyond filibusters, Chambers employed "slow-walking" tactics, such as bracketing bills for extended review or invoking motions strategically, particularly after his 2017 return following term limits, which exacerbated tensions over session efficiency. Over his 46-year tenure, these approaches enabled him to influence outcomes disproportionately as a lone progressive voice, though they drew calls for rules reforms to curb prolonged delays.

Efforts on Criminal Justice and Capital Punishment

Chambers has consistently advocated for reforms aimed at addressing racial disparities, reducing incarceration rates, and promoting alternatives to punitive measures, drawing from his observations of systemic biases affecting communities in Omaha. He introduced legislation such as LB 447 in , which sought to modify penalty provisions for and certain drug-related offenses to lessen mandatory minimums and encourage rehabilitation over extended . Through participation in the and special investigative panels on correctional services, Chambers pushed for transformative approaches to alleviate , including expanded eligibility and reintegration programs for ex-offenders, as evidenced by his involvement in 2015-2016 hearings examining sentencing practices and drivers. His most prominent efforts centered on opposing capital punishment, which he has targeted since entering the legislature in 1971, introducing abolition bills in nearly every session thereafter—over 36 times by 2024. Chambers argued that the death penalty fails as a deterrent, exacerbates racial inequities (with African Americans facing execution at disproportionate rates), and violates moral principles against state-sanctioned killing, stating as early as the 1970s that "nobody has the right to take the life of another." In 2007, he advanced LB 476 through the Judiciary Committee for full debate, though it ultimately failed amid partisan opposition. Chambers employed procedural tactics, including marathon filibusters, to delay executions and force legislative reconsideration; for instance, he filibustered in 2011 against the scheduled execution of Robert Williams, contributing to Nebraska's moratorium since its last execution in 1997. His persistence culminated in 2015 with LB 268, the 38th such measure, passing the unicameral legislature 32-15—the first repeal in a conservative state in over four decades—but it was vetoed by , who cited public support for retention. Despite the veto override failure, Chambers' advocacy highlighted fiscal costs (over $1 million per inmate annually) and ethical concerns, influencing ongoing debates even after his 2020 term limit.

Lawsuit Against God

In September 2007, Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers filed a pro se lawsuit against "God" in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, seeking a permanent injunction to halt alleged acts of destruction including "fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, grievous grievous, widespread death and destruction," as well as "terroristic threats" such as threats of "worldwide pandemic" and demands for obedience. The complaint, spanning four pages, portrayed God as an "all-seeing, all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent person who is everywhere present" responsible for calamities like tornadoes, pestilence, and plagues, and demanded that God reveal himself, enter a covenant of peace, and cease inciting followers to violence. Chambers, a self-identified atheist serving his 38th year in the , initiated the in response to a separate $7.5 million federal filed against a Omaha radio station by a former state employee, whom Chambers viewed as frivolous and emblematic of unchecked litigation; he argued that if courts entertained such claims, his against an unservable should similarly proceed, highlighting procedural inconsistencies and the need for courts to reject baseless filings uniformly. The action also symbolically tested Nebraska's doctrines, as Chambers contended that no entity, divine or otherwise, should be exempt from accountability for foreseeable harms. Filing fees were waived due to Chambers' status as a public official, and he personally served the summons at the state capitol, claiming God's obviated traditional service requirements. On October 14, 2008, District Judge Marlon A. Polk dismissed the case with prejudice, ruling that the court lacked because no could be served on , whose "home address is unknown and impossible to obtain" given unlisted status, rendering impossible under law. Chambers immediately announced plans to appeal, arguing the dismissal contradicted his motion for of 's existence and accessibility. The affirmed the dismissal in February 2009, holding that the district court properly lacked absent , and noting that the suit's claims, even if entertained, would fail on merits due to lack of evidence or justiciable controversy. The case drew national media attention as a critique of judicial efficiency and religious exceptionalism, with Chambers maintaining it exposed how courts prioritize form over substance in filtering ; critics, including some legal observers, viewed it as an abuse of judicial resources despite its brevity, while supporters praised its challenge to unexamined assumptions about immunity for or sovereign entities. No damages were sought, underscoring the suit's symbolic intent rather than pecuniary gain.

Challenge to Legislative Prayer Practices

In 1978, Ernie Chambers, an atheist representing Omaha's District 11, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Unicameral Legislature's longstanding practice of opening daily sessions with prayers delivered by a state-employed compensated with public funds at an of approximately $150, paid from the legislature's . Chambers, acting in his capacity as both a and , contended that the chaplaincy—held continuously by Presbyterian minister Robert E. Palmer since 1965—violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by endorsing religious activity and preferring Christianity, as the prayers often invoked Christian doctrine and excluded non-theistic or minority faiths. The district court ruled against Chambers in 1980, upholding the practice as constitutional under the test's secular purpose prong, citing its role in solemnizing proceedings without . On appeal, the Eighth Circuit reversed, finding the prayers advanced impermissibly, but the U.S. granted and, in Marsh v. Chambers (1983), reversed 6-3 in a decision authored by Warren Burger. The majority opinion emphasized historical precedent, noting that the First Congress authorized paid congressional chaplains shortly after ratifying the Bill of Rights, interpreting this tradition as evidence that nonsectarian legislative prayer does not establish absent or proselytizing. Justices Brennan, Marshall, and Stevens dissented, arguing the practice symbolized governmental endorsement of faith and lacked sufficient secular rationale. The ruling preserved Nebraska's chaplaincy, which continued under Palmer until his retirement in 1991, after which the position rotated among clergy but retained public funding. Chambers, undeterred, persisted in voicing objections during sessions, occasionally walking out or demanding inclusive alternatives, framing the practice as discriminatory against nonbelievers and inconsistent with equal protection under state law. No subsequent successful challenges by Chambers altered the policy, though the case influenced later precedents like Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014), reinforcing tolerance for legislative invocations rooted in tradition.

Controversies and Criticisms

Term Limits Disputes

In November 2000, Nebraska voters approved a establishing term limits for state legislators, restricting them to two consecutive four-year terms. This measure, which took effect for incumbents after their ongoing terms, compelled approximately 20 long-serving senators, including Chambers, to vacate their seats upon reaching the limit. Chambers, who had held his District 11 seat continuously since his on , 1970, viewed the as targeted at him due to his independent and often confrontational legislative style. Supporters of the initiative frequently cited his 30-plus years in office and reputation for filibustering bills as rationale for reform, with Chambers himself stating that proponents "mentioned my name and said we’ve got to get rid of him." While the law applied broadly to promote turnover and prevent entrenched power, Chambers' prominence as the legislature's lone member and a persistent of majority priorities amplified perceptions of it as a mechanism to curtail his influence. The term limits forced Chambers to retire at the end of his 2008 term, concluding a 38-year tenure marked by advocacy on civil rights, criminal justice, and opposition to capital punishment. However, the amendment's language prohibited only consecutive service, permitting reelection after a one-term hiatus; Chambers sat out the 2008-2012 session and won back his seat in the November 6, 2012, general election, defeating incumbent Democrat Brenda Council amid her legal troubles over misuse of campaign funds. He served two more terms until term limits again barred him after the 2020 election, ending his legislative career in January 2021. In February 2024, at age 86, Chambers briefly filed for reelection but withdrew his nomination on July 29, 2024, forgoing a potential return.

Inflammatory Rhetoric on Law Enforcement

Ernie Chambers has frequently employed strong language in criticizing , often framing police actions in his North Omaha district as systematically oppressive and violent, drawing from his decades of civil rights activism against perceived brutality. His rhetoric escalated notably during legislative debates on gun policies and , where he equated officers with terrorist groups and expressed hypothetical readiness to use lethal force against them. In a March 25, 2015, floor debate on permits for school employees, Chambers stated that police in his community "are always wrong" and posed a greater than external terrorists, declaring, "My is the ," because they are "licensed to kill." He elaborated that if armed, his target would be rather than colleagues or constituents, saying, "Mine would be against those who I feel are a threat to me and mine," in reference to Omaha police whom he accused of killing residents without consequence. These remarks prompted calls for his from fellow Senator Tommy Barto, who deemed them a threat to safety, but Chambers refused to retract them, insisting his comments reflected the reality of conduct in minority neighborhoods. Chambers defended his stance by citing ongoing issues of police impunity in Omaha, such as fatal shootings where officers faced no charges, arguing that such patterns justified his condemnation without apology. Critics, including advocates, labeled the ISIS comparison reckless and inflammatory, arguing it undermined officers' roles in maintaining order amid rising urban crime rates in the . Despite backlash, Chambers maintained that his rhetoric served to highlight unaddressed disparities in policing, rooted in historical tensions from riots and brutality complaints he documented as an early activist.

Residency and Ethical Challenges

In the wake of the 2016 Nebraska legislative election, John Sciara, Chambers' unsuccessful primary challenger for District 11, filed a formal residency challenge asserting that Chambers primarily resided in Bellevue, outside the north Omaha district he represented. Nebraska statutes require state senators to maintain residency within their district throughout their term. Sciara presented evidence including utility bills and property records indicating Chambers owned a home in Bellevue, arguing this disqualified him from office. Chambers countered that his longstanding barber shop at 2411 North 24th Street in Omaha served as his principal residence and base of operations, where he had worked and occasionally slept for over five decades; he emphasized his deep ties to the community, including daily presence and in . A special legislative committee, including retired Justice William Morrison as a neutral reviewer, investigated the claims over several months, reviewing documents, witness testimonies, and site visits. On April 7, 2017, the committee unanimously recommended dismissing the challenge, citing insufficient evidence that Chambers had abandoned his district residency; the full Legislature subsequently voted to uphold the dismissal, allowing Chambers to retain his seat without further condition. Critics, including Sciara, viewed the episode as highlighting potential ethical lapses in maintaining verifiable district ties, though no formal ethics violations were substantiated against Chambers. No subsequent residency or ethics probes against Chambers yielded successful challenges during his tenure.

Obstructionism and Impact on Legislative Efficiency

Ernie Chambers extensively utilized filibusters as a procedural tool to delay or block bills he deemed unjust, leveraging Nebraska's unicameral rules that require prolonged debate before invoking . Over his 38-year tenure until 2008, and upon returning in , he became one of the most prolific filibusterers in state legislative history, often employing extended monologues, procedural maneuvers, and proposed amendments to consume floor time. A notable instance occurred on February 21, 2013, when Chambers filibustered LB 440, a bill permitting prison inmates to perform unpaid labor for nonprofits, arguing it exploited workers paid only $1–$4 per day by the . This tactic occupied the entire morning session, extending debate to nearly 3.5 hours without reaching a first-round vote and forcing up to eight additional hours before cloture could be considered, thereby slowing the to a crawl. In April 2016, with fewer than five working days remaining in the 90-day session, Chambers launched a multi-day to punish colleagues for rejecting legalization (affecting suffering children, in his view) and advancing a Republican bill for winner-take-all presidential electors. He dominated proceedings by reading articles, discussing unrelated topics like expansion and personal medical procedures, interrogating senators, and threatening amendments on every subsequent bill, which stalled progress on priority issues such as relief and road funding. These tactics drew sharp rebukes from fellow senators, who described them as frustrating and obstructive, with one labeling the approach a "" that prioritized personal vendettas over collective work. Critics argued that Chambers' filibusters commandeered the nonpartisan body, fostering acrimony, procedural battles, and that risked derailing essential , thereby diminishing overall legislative efficiency in a chamber designed for streamlined, consensus-driven governance.

Ideological Positions

Atheism and Views on Religion

Chambers has consistently rejected the label of "atheist," preferring terms like "nonbeliever" or "agnostic" and emphasizing self-definition through affirmative principles rather than negation of religious belief. In a 2015 address to the , he stated that he avoids the term because it focuses on disbelief in specific deities, such as the Christian or Jewish , rather than his commitment to empirical and humanistic concerns. He has described his stance as one that prioritizes legislation over salvation, asserting, "As an elected official, I know the difference between and . My interest is in legislation, not salvation." Chambers' views underscore a rejection of religious dogma's role in public policy, viewing faith-based appeals as distractions from tangible human responsibilities. He has remarked that he possesses no divine authority to impose eternal rewards or punishments, stating, "I don't have a to send anybody to, or a to put anybody in, or a church I want them to go to, or a church I don't want them to go to." This perspective aligns with his broader critique of attributions for worldly events, dismissing notions like divine causation of disasters as illogical and counterproductive to addressing root causes through evidence-based action. Throughout his legislative career, spanning over four decades until 2021, he openly acknowledged his lack of religious beliefs while advocating for strict church-state separation to prevent theocratic influences on governance.

Stances on Race, Civil Rights, and Social Issues

Chambers has long advocated for civil , particularly in addressing racial disparities in Omaha's black community, including opposition to police brutality and misconduct. He participated in activism against segregation, , and excessive police force, pushing for reforms to protect from systemic violence. In 2023, Chambers publicly criticized a Douglas judge's decision to set a high bond for a woman, describing it as influenced by sexist and racist biases. As an early proponent of anti-apartheid measures, Chambers introduced resolutions condemning South Africa's regime in 1980, becoming the first U.S. state legislator to do so. He supported district-based voting systems to enhance minority representation in , collaborating with activists to challenge elections that diluted black voting power. Chambers emphasized universal civil rights, stating that protections should extend to all, including controversial groups like the , to uphold principled equality. On social issues, Chambers defended the rights of marginalized groups, including gays and lesbians, women athletes, and criminal defendants, positioning himself as a protector of the vulnerable. He consistently opposed the death penalty, introducing repeal bills annually for over three decades; his efforts culminated in Nebraska's temporary abolition in May 2015 after a legislative override of the governor's . Chambers framed his anti-capital punishment stance as a against state-sanctioned killing, particularly highlighting its disproportionate impact on the poor and minorities.

Outreach and Community Engagement

Barber Shop as Activism Hub

Ernie Chambers worked as a at Goodwin's Spencer Street Barbershop, located at 24th and Spencer Streets in North Omaha, which functioned as a key community center for civil rights discussions and organizing during the 1960s. The establishment attracted locals seeking not only haircuts but also forums to address racial tensions, , and socioeconomic disparities affecting residents. Chambers utilized his position to deliver impassioned speeches from his barber chair, critiquing and advocating for empowerment, thereby transforming routine visits into opportunities for political education and mobilization. The barbershop gained prominence amid Omaha's racial unrest, including riots in 1964 and 1966, where Chambers emerged as a mediator negotiating truces between aggrieved youth, , and organizations like the Omaha Action Committee. At age 29 in 1966, he articulated stark views on systemic during an interview filmed there for the Academy Award-nominated documentary A Time for Burning, exposing divisions between white and community leaders and drawing national scrutiny to local activism. Beyond immediate crisis response, the barbershop sustained long-term engagement by hosting informal gatherings that influenced efforts, such as letters challenging officials on policies and broader pushes for equity through groups like Omaha Opportunities Industrialization Center. This environment honed Chambers' oratory skills and solidified his reputation as a vocal , bridging everyday interactions with structured civil rights initiatives until his entry into elective office in 1970.

Broader Community Advocacy

Chambers founded the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) in the late 1960s to promote and address systemic discrimination faced by in Omaha, organizing and empowerment initiatives amid rising racial tensions. Earlier, as a young activist, he participated in the DePorres Club, an interracial group combating housing segregation, employment bias, and in North Omaha, drawing from his observations of poverty-driven and unemployment in the area. In response to urban unrest, including the 1969 riots following a police shooting of a Black teenager, Chambers intervened to de-escalate conflicts, such as calming student disturbances at Horace Mann Junior High School the next day to avert further violence. He extended this role into gang mediation efforts, engaging directly with youth involved in street violence to advocate non-criminal paths, emphasizing economic opportunities over confrontation with law enforcement. These activities targeted North Omaha's entrenched poverty, where he pushed for improved social services and housing to mitigate ghetto-like conditions exacerbated by joblessness and family breakdown. Beyond immediate crises, Chambers advocated for marginalized groups across racial lines, including defending the of white supremacist farmers during farm crises and critiquing unequal judicial treatment, as in his 2023 public condemnation of a high bond imposed on a woman as reflective of sexist and racist biases in the system. His outreach consistently prioritized causal factors like economic disparity and institutional over superficial reforms, positioning him as a persistent voice for the economically disadvantaged in Omaha's underserved neighborhoods.

Later Years and Retirement

Post-Term Limits Activities

After departing the Nebraska Legislature in January 2021 due to consecutive term limits, Ernie Chambers remained active in critiquing perceived injustices in the state's judicial and social systems. In June 2023, he collaborated with activist Ben Salazar to condemn Douglas County Court Judge Grant Cullison's imposition of a $50,000 cash bond on a 48-year-old woman charged with and criminal for allegedly stealing $40 worth of meat from a . Chambers described the bond as disproportionately punitive and indicative of racial and class bias, announcing plans to submit a formal against the judge to the Judicial Qualifications Commission. Chambers has expressed no intention of fully retiring from public life, emphasizing his ongoing commitment to North Omaha community issues through informal advocacy and commentary, though he has not held elected office since 2021. His post-legislative efforts reflect a continuation of lifelong patterns of challenging institutional authority outside formal governmental roles.

2024 Election Decisions

In February 2024, Ernie Chambers, aged 87, filed paperwork to run for the State Senate 11 seat, which he had held intermittently for 46 years prior to term limits forcing his exit in 2021. This move came after incumbent Democrat Terrell McKinney, who succeeded Chambers in 2020, announced his re-election bid for the North Omaha . On July 29, 2024, Chambers submitted a declination of nomination form to withdraw from the primary ballot, citing unspecified reasons in a rare procedural step confirmed by Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse. The withdrawal left McKinney unopposed in the primary, though other candidates like Republican Calandra Hatcher had also filed initially. Chambers reversed course on September 3, 2024, notarizing paperwork to enter the general election as a write-in candidate, allowing voters to manually enter his name on ballots despite his prior withdrawal. This decision reflected his history of unconventional political maneuvers but did not alter the outcome, as McKinney secured re-election on November 5, 2024, with no reported significant write-in support for Chambers.

Legacy and Reception

Notable Achievements and Awards

Ernie Chambers was elected in 1970 as the first African American member of the , representing Omaha's District 11 starting in 1971. He amassed the longest tenure of any , serving continuously from 1971 to 2009 before term limits forced a hiatus, then returning from 2013 to 2025 for a total exceeding 40 years. In 1980, Chambers sponsored legislation making the first to demand an end to apartheid in , positioning the state as a leader in international advocacy. Chambers challenged the Nebraska Legislature's practice of opening sessions with paid chaplains, filing suit in 1980 that reached the U.S. as Marsh v. Chambers (1983), which upheld the tradition but highlighted ongoing church-state separation debates. He repeatedly introduced bills to repeal the death penalty, contributing to Nebraska's 2015 temporary abolition—later overridden by —and sustaining anti-capital punishment efforts. Chambers also advanced civil rights reforms, including shifts from at-large to district-based elections and bans on corporal punishment in schools. Among awards, the Freedom From Religion Foundation presented Chambers its "Hero of the First Amendment" honor in 2006 for his Marsh v. Chambers litigation and broader defense of secular governance. In 2015, the same organization awarded him the Emperor Has No Clothes Award, recognizing his outspoken atheism and resistance to religious influence in public policy. The American Humanist Association granted him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 at its 75th annual conference, saluting decades of humanist advocacy despite his prior rejection of a 2007 Distinguished Service award from the group. In 2004, the Omaha Housing Authority recognized his community service contributions.

Criticisms of Longevity and Radicalism

Chambers' prolonged tenure in the , exceeding 46 years across multiple terms from 1971 to 2021, has faced scrutiny for limited tangible advancements in his North Omaha , where poverty rates remained elevated at around 25% and persisted despite his consistent rhetoric on . Critics, including local observers in 2006, argued that Chambers not only failed to enact substantive reforms addressing , housing decay, and gang violence but actively prioritized obstruction over constructive , leaving challenges unmitigated after decades in office. His strategic deployment of filibusters, leveraging deep knowledge of unicameral rules to extend debates indefinitely, drew rebukes for paralyzing legislative operations and fostering antagonism among peers. In sessions like 2019, Chambers' tactics were cited for eroding trust and halting bills on topics from to elections, with lawmakers accusing him of using procedural delays to "punish" opponents rather than engage collaboratively. Detractors have characterized Chambers' ideological positions—stemming from 1960s activism, avowed , and annual death penalty repeal bills since 1979—as excessively radical in Nebraska's conservative context, alienating moderates and impeding bipartisan progress. The lawsuit filed by Chambers against "" to expose court filing flaws was decried as theatrical provocation, reinforcing perceptions of him as an unrelenting agitator. His confrontational floor speeches, often berating colleagues as enablers of systemic inequities, were highlighted in a 2008 profile as emblematic of an "irascible firebrand" style that prioritized ideological purity over pragmatic governance.

Overall Impact on Nebraska Politics

Ernie Chambers exerted a transformative influence on politics through his unprecedented 46-year tenure in the unicameral legislature, representing North Omaha's District 11 from 1971 to 2008 and again from 2013 until his departure following the 2024 election. As the longest-serving senator in state history and frequently the sole legislator, Chambers disrupted the body's tradition of bipartisan consensus by employing filibusters, amendments, and relentless questioning to amplify issues affecting the poor, minorities, and disenfranchised. His approach injected adversarial debate into proceedings, compelling lawmakers to scrutinize bills on civil rights, , and social welfare more rigorously than might otherwise occur in the 49-member chamber. Chambers' procedural mastery preserved key structural elements of Nebraska's , most notably by thwarting repeated attempts to shift the state's votes to a winner-take-all format. In and subsequent sessions, he led opposition that maintained the district-based allocation—awarding two votes statewide and one per congressional district—a mechanism that has influenced national outcomes, such as splitting votes in the and presidential elections. This stance, rooted in his commitment to , underscored his role in safeguarding Nebraska's outlier status among states. On policy fronts, Chambers advanced reforms in and , contributing to the legislature's 2015 vote to repeal —the first such abolition by a state since 1964—though voters reinstated it via in 2016. He consistently blocked casino expansions, citing concerns over predatory economics targeting low-income communities, and critiqued institutional biases in and funding. While detractors labeled his tactics as obstructionist, potentially delaying legislative progress, proponents argue his vigilance prevented hasty majoritarian overreach and elevated ethical standards, fostering a legislature more attuned to causal links between and disparate impacts on vulnerable populations. Chambers' independent streak—eschewing party affiliation and formal committees—demonstrated the potency of principled individualism in Nebraska's nonpartisan framework, inspiring subsequent activists while polarizing observers. His exit after declining to contest the 2024 primary and a failed write-in bid marked the end of an era, yet his imprint persists in heightened legislative scrutiny of equity issues and resistance to entrenched power dynamics. By prioritizing empirical critiques of systemic failures over political expediency, Chambers modeled a form of representation that prioritized long-term causal accountability over short-term consensus.

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  104. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/29/ernie-chambers-withdraws-from-north-omaha-legislative-race/
  105. https://www.wowt.com/2024/07/29/election-2024-ernie-chambers-drops-out-nebraska-legislature-race/
  106. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/es/news/news-articles/ernie-chambers-files-for-nebraska-legislature/
  107. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/chambers-rethinks-exit-and-might-run-after-all-this-time-as-a-write-in/
  108. https://www.wowt.com/2024/09/04/ernie-chambers-files-reenter-race-district-11-seat-nebraska-legislature/
  109. https://www.iian.org/newsfeed/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=1069
  110. https://thehumanist.com/features/profiles/celebrating-black-humanists-ernie-chambers/
  111. https://prospect.org/2020/11/06/nebraska-lawmaker-ernie-chambers-may-have-delivered-presidency-to-biden/
  112. https://apnews.com/article/legislature-198bd2d06ca54aec913aac020344252f
  113. https://www.politico.com/magazine/politico50/2015/ernie-chambers
  114. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/series-media/nebraska-stories-video/season-1-video-15886/ernie-chambers-41084097/
  115. https://www.ketv.com/article/sen-chambers-leaves-long-legacy-doing-it-his-way/33599793
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