Gun rights advocates spark outrage by hanging effigy of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at protest
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 5 years ago • 14 commentsBy: Bill Hutchinson (ABC News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The incident happened at an event billed as "rally to celebrate freedom."
Democratic and Republican leaders denounced gun rights supporters for hanging an effigy of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear from a tree outside the state capitol building during a Memorial Day weekend demonstration.
The symbolic lynching occurred on Sunday at a rally by gun rights groups that was initially organized to celebrate Second Amendment freedoms to bear arms. But as the rally in Frankfort went on, it turned into a protest against Beshear's coronavirus-prompted stay-at-home orders.
As country singer Lee Greenwood's hit song "God Bless the U.S.A." played in the background, a demonstrator wearing camouflage pants and what appeared to be holstered handgun strung a rope over a tree limb and with the help of another man hoisted the effigy bearing a picture of Beshear and a handwritten sign tacked to it reading, "Sec Semper Tyrannis," a Latin phrase meaning "Thus always to tyrants."
Video of the episode, taken by a reporter from the Courier-Journal newspaper of Louisville, showed at least one child standing next to a baby carriage as she watched the adults hang the Beshear effigy.
While the group Take Back Kentucky posted a notice on its Facebook page advising members of protests at the capitol building on Saturday and Sunday, a spokesman for the group denied members were involved in organizing or sponsoring the event.
"We notified our members that there was going to be two separate events and to let people take their choice to go to whichever one they wanted to. We were in no way involved with the planning of it, the organization of it and we had no knowledge of what was going to take place," Richard Treitz, moderator of Take Back Kentucky, told ABC News.
"We believe in the Constitution. We believe in the Second Amendment," Treitz said. "We're not in favor of these lunatic activities like an effigy and we absolutely condemn things like banging on the windows of the Governor's Mansion."
On the group's Facebook page, it informed its members that "we will have guest speakers to talk about the virus, and how this shutdown will not only wreak havoc with the economy over the next several years, but also threaten our fundamental freedoms and the character of America for generations."
The Courier-Journal reported that the effigy hanging took place outside the state capitol building after about 100 demonstrators marched to the Governor's Mansion yelling for Beshear to come out.
"Come out, Andy!" protesters chanted.
It was not clear if Beshear was home at the time. The governor, a Democrat, has yet to issue a response to the protest.
As images and video of the effigy being strung up went viral, political leaders from both sides of the aisle condemned the act.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued statement calling the incident "unacceptable" and saying "there is no place for hate in Kentucky."
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams, a Republican, took to Twitter to denounce the incident.
"This is disgusting and I condemn it wholeheartedly," Adams wrote.
Adams noted that John Wilkes Booth shouted the phrase "Sec Semper Tyrannis" when he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. He said those words "have no place in the Party of Lincoln."
The Kentucky House Democrats issued a joint statement deploring the protesters and calling their actions "beyond reprehensible."
MORE: Kentucky governor asks churches to close on Easter; judge overrules Louisville mayor's order to stop drive-in service
"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," the Kentucky House Democrats' statement reads.
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Maybe the FBI can make themselves useful and look into these domestic terrorists.
I’m sure it was about a lot more than gun rights. I’m sure it was to go with the whole restart the economy struggles against the regime. Effigy hangings are time honored political speech, even if they go a bit too far in expressing a genuine valid belief.
That's fucked up, on so many levels.
We learn more about you everyday.
That they have been a historical form of political speech is Just a statement of fact. That it may go a bit too far or be a bit much is my opinion.
With the history of lynchings in this country it is beyond wrong. It was wrong when it was Obama, wrong when it was trump and wrong with the KY governor. You can't make this okay, not in any way whatsoever.
I guess it's true that republicans will excuse anything as long as it offends dems. Disgusting.
the fbi is currently busy looking into the domestic terrorists in the last administration.
They still have to deal with the ones that were the Obama regime and its coup attempt against the incoming elected administration
Fortunately one of the gun activists immediately went up and removed it.
I think they are. Aren't they looking into the Obama administration?
GBTUSA used to be my favorite song and I got to see the artist perform it live after I came home from Desert Storm. Once Trump hijacked it, I could never listen to it again. Now these assholes are using it.
Trump didn’t hijack it. It’s been performed at GOP conventions and events since it’s author and performer first made it. Some in the msm refer to it as the Republican national anthem.
Hanging someone in effigy should be looked at as a death threat until proven otherwise.
The Kentucky Attorney General's Office should look into prosecuting these assholes.
Fair enough. Oil up the scales of justice this summer for when it gets warm enough for those antifa pricks to start sticking their heads out of grandmas basement.
Usually a couple of those present at their demonstrations.
Better start building more prison space .....
So, you were equally upset when the left hung Bush Jr and Palin in effigy; or showed Trump decapitated?
Don't even bother to try and pretend. The left worshiped Kathy Griffin for her actions.
I don't agree with hanging anyone in effigy; but it has been done so often it has lost all meaning.
Have fun with the faux outrage.