January 15, 2021 3:40 a.m.

Douglas County District Attorney Rick Wesenberg is speaking out in opposition to the local group Citizens Against Tyranny.

A release said he felt compelled to join other officials in responding to the activities of the organization.

Wesenberg said it’s his understanding that CAT wants all elected officials in the county to sign in support of their declaration. Wesenberg said that declaration invites public shaming and banning of individual citizens from merchants and services in the county. He said news articles have indicated that two women were placed on a “list” and endured attempted shaming. The News Review reported those names were taken down after an inquiry from the paper.

Wesenberg said, “This kind of response to the COVID-19 crisis, its impact on the health of our community, and individual financial difficulties, is not the answer”. Wesenberg said that Douglas County Commissioners continue to “…walk a path to balance those competing crises and have exemplified a balanced response to the issue”.

The DA said he will not participate in or sign on to what he calls Citizens Against Tyranny’s “…ill intended approach to this difficult issue”.

Wesenberg said public shaming and banning of certain listed Douglas County citizens “…is offensive to our democracy and the due process of law”. His statement concluded by saying, “It’s simply not who we are in Douglas County”.

Earlier this week Douglas County Commissioners issued a release saying they were against the organization’s plans.