Kentucky Gov. hanged in effigy at Second Amendment rally
What started out as a freedom-loving celebration of the Second Amendment ahead of Memorial Day turned into Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear being hanged in effigy and protesters chanting outside the governor’s mansion.
The Second Amendment rally, meant to inspire people “about what it really means to be FREE,” according to Take Back Kentucky, attracted at least 100 people to the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort on Sunday.
It began as a celebration of constitutional rights but turned into a protest of coronavirus restrictions and Beshear’s administration. Protesters toted guns and waved American and “Don’t tread on me” flags.
Tony Wheatley of Constitutional Kentucky, invoking Benjamin Franklin,
said, “We have a republic, if we can keep it.” He called on the crowd to recognize their ownership of the Constitution.
As the rally wound down, organizers led the remaining crowd to the governor’s mansion to try to hand-deliver a request for Beshear to resign. Groups carried signs reading “Abort Beshear from office” and “My rights don’t end where your fear begins” to Beshear’s home and chanted “Come out Andy” and “Resign Andy.”
No one came to the door. A few Kentucky State troopers got out of their cars to observe but did not try to stop the crowd. It was not clear whether Beshear was at home at the time.
The crowd returned to the capitol, at which time an effigy of Beshear was hanged from a tree outside the Capitol while “God Bless the U.S.A.” played over the loudspeaker.
The effigy was swiftly condemned by leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“As a strong defender of the First Amendment, I believe Americans have the right to peacefully protest,” McConnell said on Twitter. “However, today’s action toward Governor Beshear is unacceptable. There is no place for hate in Kentucky.”