FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — A group of roughly 300 demonstrators gathered outside the state Capitol today while Supreme Court Justices listened to arguments over Gov. Andy Beshear's executive orders related to COVID-19.
"This isn't just about masks, it's about closing schools, telling people they can't be in restaurants after 10 o'clock," said Lee Watts, who calls himself a chaplain for the Capitol. "Some of these (orders) don't make any sense."
For Pastor Brian Gibson of Owen County, it's about being told how he and his parishioners can worship.
"I have friends across the nation, in California, looking at one year in jail for opening up their churches. Their parishioners are looking at $1,000 fines. We don't want that same thing sweeping across the nation," he continued.
The gathering was peaceful, and the demonstrators respectful. They had no issue with those who choose to wear a mask- even as they've deemed them useless. Their problems stem from the Governor's executive orders.
"It's not tyranny to wear a mask," said Marty Terry of Lawrenceburg. "It's tyranny for some bureaucrat with a staff of 11 people, full-time even during the pandemic and shutdowns, to tell me I have to wear this thing."
Karen Steinrock of Louisville took it one step further.
"At first, I was kind of okay with wearing a mask until I was told I have to," she said.
