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Protesters hang Beshear in effigy; condemnations follow

At a protest in Frankfort today, some of those present hung Governor Andy Beshear in effigy, then marched from the Capitol to the governor’s mansion and demanded that Beshear come out and face them.

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Reactions

House Democratic Leadership

The following statement is from House Democratic Leadership and is in response to actions at the Capitol today in which Governor Andy Beshear was hung in effigy. The leadership is House Democratic Leader Joni Jenkins, House Democratic Caucus Chair Derrick Graham and House Democratic Whip Angie Hatton.

“Hanging Governor Beshear in effigy is beyond reprehensible, and yet it is also the logical conclusion of the hateful rhetoric we saw touted on the Capitol grounds earlier this month that was implicitly condoned by elected representatives from the legislature’s majority party. Doing this in front of our Capitol, just a short walk from where the Governor, First Lady, and their two young children live, is an act that reeks of hate and intimidation and does nothing but undermine our leading work to battle this deadly disease and restore our economy safely. We call on all elected officials to condemn these actions and pledge to work to eliminate dangerous hateful speech.”

House Republican Leadership

A statement from House Speaker David Osborne on reports that a group of protestors hung an effigy during a protest at the Capitol today:

“I am outraged that a group hung an effigy of Governor Beshear today at the Capitol and the House Majority Caucus condemns this act of hatred. The party of Lincoln will not condone this. There is no place in a civil society for it, nor is there any good to be accomplished from it. This weekend we honor those who died defending our right to speak freely. Today’s actions are an insult to their sacrifice and the kind of incendiary action that can only cause harm.”

Senate Republican Leadership

The following is a statement from Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers regarding the rally that occurred Sunday at the state capitol:

“The actions of the individuals at the capitol today were completely reprehensible. I disagree with Governor Andy Beshear on many issues. However, this is not the way to disagree on policy or personalities. The General Assembly will continue to work on behalf of Kentuckians, to guide us through this difficult era, but in no way will we endorse this type of conduct.”

State Parties

Elected Officials

U.S. Senate candidate and state Representative Charles Booker released the following statement in reaction to the lynching demonstration in Frankfort today:

“Today’s demonstration was inexcusable and shameful. It is a threat on the the life of our Governor, and it grossly disrespects the painful history of lynchings in Kentucky. As I have explained on the House Floor, lynching was used to terrorize communities across our country and throughout the Commonwealth. I have had family members lynched in Kentucky, and I carry the trauma of that terror with me today. To use this despicable act as a way to threaten our Governor while he works to protect all Kentucky families should be condemned by all.”

https://twitter.com/RepJosieRaymond/status/1264706666295164939

https://twitter.com/Alvarado4Senate/status/1264716001624633345

https://twitter.com/jrajra/status/1264708496039305216

The president of Louisville Metro Council, David James, released the following statement concerning the Second Amendment Rally which took place today in Frankfort:

“I join other elected officials in strongly condemning what took place on the grounds of our State Capitol on Sunday. Peaceful protest is a guaranteed right in our country, inciting violence by demanding our Governor come out of the Mansion and then hanging an effigy of him is both disgusting and repulsive. As an African American, I am personally offended that anyone believes a hanging is a way to deal with a difference of opinion. While this action was done by a few, it shows selfishness during a time when a health crisis has managed to change all of our lives. I call upon the organizers of this “so called” freedom rally to revisit the meaning of the weekend we are celebrating. Today the actions by some was shameful, they may not realize there are thousands of people in support of what our Governor has done during this crisis. You may have done more damage to your efforts than good.”

Others

https://twitter.com/rn_katie/status/1264677843084156928

https://twitter.com/nema/status/1264669981977034753

https://twitter.com/mossybug79/status/1264664746055385088

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