Gov. Andy Beshear stopped short Sunday of saying future state Capitol protesters would be cited for attending mass gatherings, but said he intends to review options for discouraging behavior he worries will spread the novel coronavirus. The Democratic governor has been among those facing backlash in recent weeks over the ongoing closures related to COVID-19.
The demonstrators were on hand for what was dubbed a "Freedom Rally," meant to demonstrate against government orders keeping businesses closed during the COVID-19 outbreak.
"If I can go to Walmart, Lowes, or Kroger and observe certain health guidelines, then I should be allowed to go to the small business or any house of worship obeying the exact same guidelines," organizer Lee Watts told the crowd, according to WLKY-TV.
Beshear called some statements made at a Saturday protest rally at the state Capitol "reckless."
"What I've heard is that speakers, and leaders, even state representatives or state senators asked people to take off their masks, told people that social distancing is optional, and one even said they're not going to take the vaccine when it's created. That's just reckless," the governor told reporters at his Sunday briefing.
Lawmakers reportedly making an appearance at the rally included State Reps. Savannah Maddox, Stan Lee, and Kim King - as well at State Sen. John Schickel. Hundreds of participants showed up for the two-hour long rally, where many chose not to observe social distancing guidelines. Asked whether the state would take action to cite anyone who attends large gatherings at the Capitol, Gov. Beshear responded, "we'll see about steps that are going to be taken."
"In this job, you've got to do the best you can to try to protect people, try to make the decision in the each circumstance to not encourage more people to do something that's not dangerous," he added.
Also on hand, according to media reports, was Jack Roberts. The pastor of Maryville Baptist Church is at the center of recent legal disputes surrounding the house of worship, which has flouted the governor's orders against in-person gatherings. Saturday, Liberty Counsel touted a U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upholding the church's right to hold drive-in services as a victory, but Gov. Beshear said his administration has never argued otherwise.
"The church that filed the lawsuit somehow convinced the court that we hadn't allowed them to do a drive-up service," Beshear said. "That is not true. No one who came up to a drive-up and didn't get out of their car was cited or got a letter or should have gotten a letter."
New cases of the novel coronavirus continue to be steady, even as the state ramps up testing. Beshear reported 253 new cases over both Saturday and Sunday, with a total of five new deaths.
Phased reopening of businesses is set to begin on May 11th, starting with construction, manufacturing, and other sectors - provided they observe new CDC-driven safety requirements.
