Elected officials on both sides of the aisle are outraged by the actions of a group of protesters, after they hanged an effigy of Gov. Andy Beshear Sunday afternoon.

This happened as Second Amendment supporters gathered at the Capitol on Sunday.
According to reports, the effigy, hung from a tree, with the words “Sic semper tyrannis.”
That is the shortened version of the Latin phrase “Sic semper evello mortem tyrannis,” meaning, “Thus always I bring death to tyrants.”

The phrase was first used during the assassination of Julius Caesar. The shortened version was believed to have been yelled by John Wilkes Booth after assassinating President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. It is also the motto of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Statewide, Kentucky House Democrats quickly released a statement condemning the effigy as beyond reprehensible, but say they believe it is a conclusion to escalating behavior.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed that while he defends the First Amendment, this effigy was unacceptable.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed that while he defends the First Amendment, this effigy was unacceptable.

From her official twitter she said” I am shocked and saddened by the actions of the protesters in Frankfort today. Never did I think I would see this type of behavior on our Capitol lawn. Today’s events should be condemned by every Kentuckian and American. Kentucky is better than this. I stand with our Governor.”

Fellow Senate candidate Charles Booker also released a statement through his offical twitter, pointing out the history behind the act.

“An effigy of Gov. Beshear was hung on the grounds of our State Capitol.
It’s not just the threat on his life, it’s the fact that they demonstrated an act rooted in our history of racism. I’ve had family lynched in Kentucky. This is vile and traumatic.”