Protesters in Kentucky disrupted a coronavirus briefing by the state’s governor with chants of “we want to work.”
About 100 people showed up on the lawn of the Kentucky State Capitol chanting slogans such as “we want to work” and “facts over fear,” which could be heard throughout Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s briefing on Wednesday, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The governor referenced the protesters at one point during his speech, but he reiterated that he wouldn’t adhere to the demands of those calling for an easing of the stay-at-home order.
“We do have some folks up in here in Kentucky today — and everybody should be able to express their opinion — that believe we should reopen Kentucky immediately, right now,” Beshear said about midway through his briefing. “Folks, that would kill people. That would absolutely kill people.”
“My job isn’t to make the popular decision, but the right decision,” he continued, “and the decision that saves peoples’ lives.”
[Related: Michigan protesters chant ‘Lock her up’ while demonstrating against governor’s stay-at-home order]
Protesters who oppose Gov. Andy Beshear’s decision to close businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus have gathered en masse outside the room where he is doing his daily #COVID19 press conference, crying out “We want to work!” and now “Facts over fear!” pic.twitter.com/49812u8G4R
— Morgan Watkins (@morganwatkins26) April 15, 2020
Beshear has been one of the most controversial governors during the coronavirus crisis in terms of actions taken to ensure that people stay in their homes.
The recently elected governor instructed police to record license plates of Kentuckians who attended church services on Easter to gather information to be transferred to the Health Department, which would then impose mandatory 14-day quarantines.
The protests in Kentucky come as people across the country begin to assemble in the streets to push back against stay-at-home orders they believe to be draconian.
In Michigan, thousands of people gathered around the state Capitol Building in Lansing on Wednesday as part of “Operation Gridlock,” which was aimed at encouraging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to loosen the stay-at-home order she issued and let some people get back to work.
MUST SEE: Quite a scene in Lansing, Michigan as people protest the state’s stay-at-home order. @WOODTV‘s @LeonHendrix joined @AaronNolanNews on #NexstarNation‘s morning #COVID19 #coronavirus update. pic.twitter.com/l7UkLAth3p
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) April 15, 2020
Similar protests also took place in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Ohio.
