FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) -- Protesters took their anger over Gov. Andy Beshear’s COVID-19 policies to his front gate Wednesday morning.
There were more umbrellas than protest signs and not a mask in sight as approximately 200 people rallied in a steady rain outside the Governor’s Mansion.
The demonstrators said they aren't happy with Beshear’s announcement this week that he will ease restrictions on large gatherings only when 2.5 million Kentuckians have been vaccinated.
“Our freedoms are not tied to his rules that he just pulls up out of thin air,” said Marty Terry of Lawrenceburg.
Some of the protesters said Beshear’s requirement amounts to blackmail.
“He's basically holding us hostage," said Karen Goss of Lexington. "I mean, who does that other than a tyrant?"
Ben McClure of Glencoe held a sign that read “Vaccination IDs are racist, too.”
“Kind of like 1930s Nazi Germany: Show me your papers and we'll let you travel,” he said.
Many said they don't believe the numbers of people who have died or been hospitalized by the virus.
“I think they're fudging the numbers,” Goss said.
“Mark Twain said there's lies, damn lies and statistics," Terry added. "He's using those statistics to control us."
Crowd of what looks like between 50 and 100 people have gathered outside the Governor’s Mansion to protest @GovAndyBeshear’s anti-covid policies. pic.twitter.com/f6uPN7Fxfj
— Lawrence Smith (@LASmithReports) April 14, 2021
Republican State Sen. Adrienne Southworth of Lawrenceburg was the only lawmaker in the crowd.
“I feel like if the governor's going to shut down people's constitutional rights, and then say, 'Now here's the payment you have to pay in order to get your stuff back', that's wrong,” Southworth told WDRB News.
One of the organizers of the rally, Tony Wheatley of Mercer County, tried unsuccessfully earlier this year to have Beshear impeached.
“It's not a personal vendetta against him,” Mercer said. “It's about his policies.”
Beshear responded to the rally in a statement on Twitter.
The Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge is basic math. More vaccinations equal a safer return to restaurants, pools, bars, wedding and music venues and more. Science and math aren’t political. They are science and math. ^AB
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 14, 2021
Organizers said they plan to return for a second rally Sunday.
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