By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
For the fourth time in two weeks, members of the Poor People’s Campaign were not allowed to enter the State Capitol en masse on Monday.
Kentucky State Police Facilities Security officers told the protesters once again that only two members at a time would be allowed inside and, when those two left, then two more would be admitted.
Paul Trickel, a social worker from Florence, was one of those refused admittance because there were already two of their members inside.
“Four people went in just ahead of us,” he said. “They looked like they were a family and were allowed to go in while we weren’t.”
Jeremy Porter, a member of the Poor People’s Campaign, is told by a State Police supervisor (back to the camera) that only two protesters at a time will be allowed inside. (Kentucky Today/Tom Latek)
He explained the purpose of his attempt. “We were trying to get in so we could deliver a message to the governor or to anyone in the Capitol building, and we were told we could go in but only a group of two, and we could not go in at the time because two of our group were already inside.”
Kentucky is the only state in the country that has denied Poor People’s Campaign participants access to their statehouse, which has now occurred three times.
On Tuesday, the Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus issued this statement: “It is disheartening to see Kentucky taxpayers being restricted access to the state Capitol as was witnessed once again yesterday. The Capitol is a cornerstone for citizens to express their first amendment rights, no matter how much we may agree or disagree. When arbitrary decisions such as these are made, it infringes the foundation of our Democracy and does a great disservice to the many before us.”
On June 13, Rev. Dr. William Barber, the national head of the campaign, spoke to Kentucky’s media at the State Capitol steps to address his concerns about limiting the people’s access to the people’s house. He charged Gov. Matt Bevin with hypocrisy for swearing in on a Bible to uphold the Constitution then not allow people in for redress.
Rev. Barber also donated his Poverty and Justice Bible, which highlights more than 2000 verses of Biblical instructions for readers regarding human poverty and justice.
Barber urged Kentucky’s clergy involved in the Poor People’s Campaign to present the Bible to Bevin.
Though ministers proceeded to carry the Poverty and Justice Bible to the Capitol, the group was once again turned away and not allowed to enter.
He also mentioned last week that they had attorneys looking into whether there could be possible legal action due to the restrictions, but members of the campaign at the latest rally said there was no decision made.
This was the sixth and final week of the protests in Frankfort.
Next up, participants in Kentucky Poor People’s Campaign will travel to Washington, D.C., throughout the week for trainings and actions culminating in a massive rally at the U.S. Capitol June 23 to launch the second phase of the campaign. Buses will leave Louisville, Bowling Green and Lexington on Friday for the national march.
One of the final remarks from the participants on Monday: “You haven’t seen the last of us.”
