FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky governor Andy Beshear started his Tuesday 5:00 p.m. briefing with some heartfelt words to those who hung an effigy of him and politicians he said are "flaming the fire" that's leading to protests.
"I will not be afraid. I will not be bullied, and I will not back down, not to them and not to anybody else," Beshear said.
Gov. Beshear addressed a weekend protest at the Capitol that garnered national attention when a small group marched onto the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion and hung an effigy in a nearby tree.
"At an area several hundred yards away and hung a dummy with my face on it. It included the saying yelled by Lincoln's assassin," Beshear said. "Think about it --a celebration of assassination on our capitol grounds."
A sign pinned to the effigy read 'sic semper tyrannis' which is a Latin phrase meaning 'thus always to tyrants.'
"So lets start by calling it what it was and what it is. Actions aimed at creating fear and terror," Beshear said.
The Governor talked about the decision to move his family to Frankfort, the first governor’s family – kids and all – to do so in over 30 years.
“I worried about a number of things. How would living in the community – with their dad as governor – affect my kids? What would it feel like to live in a house where people toured several days each week?” Gov. Beshear said. “One thing I never thought about, never questioned, was their personal safety. While I worried kids might be mean to them from time to time, I did not consider they might be bullied or heckled by adults.”
The Governor noted that his administration had offered the demonstrators a drive-up protesting permit but the organizers declined. He described how a right-wing militia group called The Three Percenters marched onto the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion.
“And there, just a windowpane away from where my kids often played, they chanted and heckled,” Gov. Beshear said. “While they were thankfully not there, I want to remind you my kids are 9- and 10-years old.”
The Governor called out the members of the group for engaging in acts meant to intimidate as well as politicians and officeholders who have encouraged them.
“You cannot fan the flames and condemn the fire,” he said.
Gov. Beshear said he would remain undaunted.
“I owe it to the people of Kentucky to not bow to terror, but keep doing what’s right for our citizens,” the Governor said. “Living my faith means I have to face adversity without losing my values.”
Here's a paraphrase of his message:
"We had a Memorial Day weekend where most everybody was out there was trying to do the right thing. Knowing and caring for each other. Then we have what happened on the Capitol grounds. So I've written down some of my thoughts."
The Governor talked about the decision to move his family to Frankfort. He's the first governor to do so in over 30 years.
“I worried about a number of things. How would living in the community – with their dad as governor – affect my kids? What would it feel like to live in a house where people toured several days each week? One thing I never thought about, never questioned, was their personal safety. While I worried kids might be mean to them from time to time, I did not consider they might be bullied or heckled by adults,” Beshear said.
The Governor noted that his administration had offered the demonstrators a drive-up protesting permit but the organizers declined. He described how a right-wing militia group marched onto the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion.
“And there, just a windowpane away from where my kids often played, they chanted and heckled. While they were thankfully not there, I want to remind you my kids are 9- and 10-years old.”
The Governor called out the members of the group for engaging in acts meant to intimidate as well as politicians and officeholders who have encouraged them.
“You cannot fan the flames and condemn the fire,” he said.
Gov. Beshear said he would remain undaunted.
“I owe it to the people of Kentucky to not bow to terror, but keep doing what’s right for our citizens,” the Governor said. “Living my faith means I have to face adversity without losing my values.”
Beshear says the group's intent was to send a message of hate. He condemn it as wrong, vile and evil.
"I will not be bullied or afraid. Being governor in this pandemic is a heavy responsibility. I owe it to Kentucky, to not bow to terror. To do what is right. My faith means I have to face adversity. “I will not be afraid, and I will continue to do the right thing. We will get through this together. Even yesterday, I have never been prouder to be the governor of Kentucky."
Hours after the governor responded to the effigy, Huffman Chevy Buick GMC of Frankfort tweeted a statement on the termination of an employee who had allegedly been involved in an incident at the Capitol:
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was in his home state Tuesday on business. Here's what he said about the effigy:
Raw video shows moment the effigy of Governor Beshear was assembled and hung from a tree on Kentucky State Capitol grounds. ▼ ▼