Beshear Effigy

Beshear Effigy

On 44news-- kentuckians reaching a boiling point with governor andy beshear.

Over the weekend - this shocking and heinous moment -- unfolding during a rally at the state capitol.

As you just saw -- the group hanging a mock- up of the governor.

The deplorable act is sending shock-waves across the country.

Here's 44news reporter erran huber - he is live in henderson tonight --- he has an exclusive interview with a man who witnesses the display -- while documenting the rally.

Kentuckians from all walks of life are sharing their thoughts-- after a political demonstration from over the weekend--was capped with the hanging of a likeness of the governor.

While many of the bluegrass natives we spoke to didn't want to share their thoughts-- one henderson woman-- who says she saw the video of kentucky governor andy beshear hung in effigy on sunday-- stepped up and asking to speak.

"i was very sad.

It's a sad america.

I think governor andy beshear is doing the best he can for our state, and for our country and to see that video made me sad being an american, and a kentuckian.

Right there in front of his own home.

It's just unamerican.

In every way."

Protesters hung the likeness of beshear by the neck from a tree over the weekend.

Just steps away from the governor's mansion----here beshear lives with his wife and two young children.

Gerry james spoke with 44news one on one about what he saw while documenting the protests.

They go to this truck, and they pulled out this garbage bag.

And out of the garbage bag comes this effigy of governor beshear.

And i''m sitting there, cause i'm by this tree where they hung it up.

I was just kinda floored for a second.

I had a mental pause.

The hanging on sunday capped a two day event-- saturday marked what organizers described as "a rally to celebrate freedom, and to fight back against the...shutdown over the coronavirus" then on sunday -- the hanging taking place during what protesters called a "patriot day --2nd amendment rally."

Their facebook event for that day--saying the protestors wanted "...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!"

Beshear's effigy was hung with a sign reading 'sic semper tyrannis'--latin for "thus always to tyrants."

Those words were made famous in american history after john wilkes booth -- said he shout the phrase -- following his assassination of president abraham lincoln.

And sunday's display-- drawing reaction from a-- more modern-- kentucky republican.

Senator mitch mcconnell-- condeming the act in a statement.?as a strong defender of the first amendment, i believe americans have the right to peacefully protest.

However, today action toward governor beshear is unacceptable.

There is no place for hate in kentucky?

And for james -- witnessing the event -- drew attention to another historical echo.

The imagery calling up painful parallels for those in the african american community.

"it triggers me.

Those images of generational trauma.

Things like lynchings.

And how lynchings were also entertainment.

You learn about lynchings.

People freaking have picnics at lynchings and stuff."

Just hours ago-- kentucky's first lady