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Activists Respond To Governor’s Limited Access

Posted at 6:20 PM, Feb 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-14 18:20:24-05

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18)– A velvet rope was set up to keep guests out of Governor Matt Bevin’s office.

The new restrictions come a week after members of the Poor People’s Campaign made an unannounced visit to meet with the governor.

The sight became fodder for political opponents, and the Kentucky Democratic Party pounced, tweeting that Governor Matt Bevin couldn’t handle public input. The sign reads that the limited access is due to high traffic during the legislative sessions.

“Well the high volume of traffic is probably us,” said Arnold Farr.

Farr and Jeremy Porter are on the state planning committee for the Kentucky Poor People’s Campaign. They were among the 100 or so people who occupied the governor’s office last week demanding he address their concerns on poverty and other issues in the state. Eventually, they got their meeting.

“Folks across the state were really pleasantly surprised that Governor Bevin did something right to open access to himself and to the capitol, but this seems like a step back,” said Porter.

They said they’re not surprised that anti-poverty activists were denied access to the capitol last summer, Farr said that this is becoming a pattern.

LEX 18’s Mike Valente made multiple requests for comment to the governor’s office. He has not heard back.