Far-right militia extremist shamelessly defends mock lynching of Kentucky governor: ‘People have had enough’

Over Memorial Day Weekend, a far-right militia group called the Kentucky 3Percenters held a raucous anti-shutdown demonstration outside the governor’s mansion — and lynched Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in effigy over the state’s coronavirus restrictions. Although the violent threat at the demonstration (which billed itself as a gun rights protest) is drawing condemnation, a spokesperson for the group is defending it without apology.

Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is condemning the threat. McConnell tweeted, “As a strong defender of the First Amendment, I believe Americans have the right to peacefully protest. However, today’s action toward Governor Beshear is unacceptable. There is no place for hate in Kentucky.”

Democrat Amy McGrath, who is seeking the nomination to run against McConnell in Kentucky’s 2020 U.S. Senate race, tweeted, “I am shocked and saddened by the actions of the protesters in Frankfort today. Never did I think I would see this type of behavior on our Capitol lawn. Today’s events should be condemned by every Kentuckian and American. Kentucky is better than this. I stand with our Governor.”

But Patsy Kays Bush, a spokesperson for the Kentucky 3Percenters, defended the protest on Facebook.

Bush wrote, “People have had enough, the rallies that you attend and speak at, do absolutely nothing to help the people of this State. It was not racist it was radical…You can condemn it till the cows come home but screaming and shouting in a microphone is not the answer any longer,….maybe it was in bad taste, maybe it was severe, maybe it was unexpected but at least it was something and I personally will stand by it to the absolute end.”