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Effigy of Kentucky governor hanged from tree at Second Amendment rally

Mitch McConnell leads criticism against ‘unacceptable’ protest

Gino Spocchia
Tuesday 26 May 2020 12:06 BST
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Kentucky governor slams 'coronavirus parties'

Second Amendment protesters in Kentucky were condemned this weekend after an effigy of state governor Andy Beshear was strung up outside the state Capitol.

Video of the scene on Saturday showed two men hoisting-up the doll on the governor’s own lawn in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the U.S.A’ could be heard playing as the doll, with Mr Beshear’s face stuck-on, hanged from the tree.

The Patriot Day demonstration was advertised on Facebook, reported CNN, with participants being called on to support the second amendment of the US constitution.

It continued: “Patriot Day 2nd Amendment Rally to educate and inspire everyone today to be more like the original American Patriots who would not stand for their God given right to protect themselves and their loved ones to be taken away by tyrants!”

The Latin phrase “sic semper tyrannis”, meaning “thus always to tyrants”, was seen hanging around the effigy’s neck on Saturday.

President Abraham Lincoln’s assassin also used the same phrase.

Both Democrats and Republicans have criticised the demonstrators’ actions, with Kentucky House speaker David Osborne calling them “unacceptable”.

“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,” said Mr Osborne on Saturday.

Senate majority leader and Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell said: “There is no place for hate in Kentucky.”

He added on Twitter: “As a strong defender of the First Amendment, I believe Americans have the right to peacefully protest. However, today’s action toward Governor Beshear is unacceptable.”

Despite the demonstrations, Kentucky’s governor has a 73 per cent approval rating for his actions on the Covid-19 crisis, according to a latest poll.

The state, which has seen 391 coronavirus deaths, is much smaller than the US total of almost 100,000.

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