Governor Andy Beshear stated that having a president call in a state’s National Guard without consulting the Governor about it means there are different chains of command, and “that could be dangerous in the response itself.” Beshear, who has governed during a period of major protests, said that the people best equipped to gauge whether additional resources are needed to handle them are local law enforcement on the ground.
“This is the Los Angeles Police Department we're talking about. It is one of the largest police forces in the United States that has extensive training, and its chief is telling the country and the world that it doesn't need the assistance of the National Guard to handle what's going on right now,” Beshear said.
When asked about ICE raids happening across the country, Beshear said he believes border security is national security and immigration laws must be enforced, but he has concerns about how the Trump administration is enforcing them.
“People should think about the look and the feel of a military type of vehicle pulling up in your neighborhood in the middle of the night and people jumping out in black masks and grabbing someone that could then end up in a detention center not close by, but somewhere around the country very quickly. And that could be an American citizen. That could be somebody who is here legally.”
The Governor has activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center ahead of planned protests in 15 Kentucky cities on Saturday.
“Violence, looting, destruction of property is illegal. Those that would engage in it should be prosecuted, but the peaceful protest is legal and is, as American as America is," said Besehar. "And those that engage in peaceful protest ought to be able to do it safely.”
No Kings Protests planned in Kentucky on Saturday, June 14th
- Lexington: Noon-3 p.m.
- Louisville: Noon-4 p.m.
- Bowling Green: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Danville: 10-11 a.m.
- Elton: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Franklin: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Hazard: Noon-3 p.m.
- Henderson: 5:30-7 p.m.
- Hopkinsville: Noon-1:30 p.m.
- Jackson: 5-7 p.m.
- Madisonville: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Morehead: Noon-3 p.m.
- Owensboro: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Paducah: 1-2:30 p.m.
- Shelbyville: 1-3 p.m.