Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said children were likely sexually assaulted, exposed to drugs, and physically harmed as a result of the teachers’ strike that closed public schools across Kentucky on Friday.
“I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them,” the Republican told reporters Friday afternoon, according to WDRB.”I guarantee you somewhere today, a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were home alone because a single parent didn’t have any money to take care of them.”
Teachers traveled to the state’s capitol to protest a bill signed by Bevin that would overhaul their pensions.
“Some were introduced to drugs for the first time because they were vulnerable and left alone,” Bevin added.
Bevin’s fellow Republicans criticized the governor’s comments. Republican State Sen. Max Wise called them “disgusting” and “republisive.”
The disgusting comments by Gov. Bevin insinuating that a peaceful protest by teachers would lead to sexual assault are reprehensible.
I don’t agree with these comments & I find them repulsive. I disagreed with his radio comments about teachers before & I disagree with these.
— Max Wise (@maxwellwise) April 14, 2018
