FRANKFORT, Ky - A rally at the state capitol took a drastic turn Sunday when some of the gathered protesters hang an effigy of Governor Andy Beshear (D). A large group, with some visibly armed, then walked next door to the governor’s mansion and challenged the governor to come outside. 

What You Need To Know


  • Beshear hanged in effigy at rally Sunday

  • Political leaders from both parties denouce the action

Since Sunday’s events, members from nearly every corner of Kentucky politics have publicly rebuked the actions. A sign was attached to the effigy that read SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS, which roughly translates to “Thus always to tyrants.” The phrase was infamously yelled by John Wilkes Booth after he shot Kentucky native President Abraham Lincoln. 

On Monday, Spectrum News 1 spoke with Democrat State Senate Floor Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey.

"One of the great things is if you have a problem with government, you can come and address that problem with government," he said during a video interview. "When you go so far as to walk up to an elected official’s house, armed, and hang them in effigy, that goes beyond protest; that is a threat. "

Spectrum News also spoke with Republican State Representative Jason Nemes.

"When you do something like that the other side’s not going to listen to you, and it hurts your own side," he said. "Because people see you as a crazy person. And the people [Sunday], they hurt the effort. Their effort was to have a "Patriot Day," a second amendment day. And the folks who hanged the governor in effigy and went to his house and dared him to come outside and confront them did nothing but harm their own effort."

Crystal Staley, communications director for Beshear, sent this statement to Spectrum News:

"The act that was displayed on Capitol grounds today, near where the Governor and his young children live, was wrong and offensive. This type of behavior must be condemned. As Kentuckians we should be able to voice our opinions without turning to hate and threats of violence. Put simply – we are and should be better than this."

On Monday, First Lady Britainy Beshear appeared to indirectly address the actions outside her home, as well as thank well-wishers who stood outside her home the following day.

Gov. Beshear also appeared to reference the incident in a Monday Tweet.

Spectrum News 1 asked Staley if the Beshear family was home at the time of the protest. Staley did not address the question in her response.