Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear addresses the audience gathered to celebrate his inauguration at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Some folks in Kentucky were determined to go to Easter services today, despite the order of the Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear against public gatherings during the pandemic.
The Governor had threatened to record license plate numbers and then order a 14-day quarantine for anyone in attendance.
But that didn’t stop folks at the Maryville Baptist Church from attending.
But the parishioners found a surprise on the ground in the parking lot — nails at every entrance — obviously an intended effort to hurt the cars of the folks in attendance.
I’m at Maryville Baptist Church, which continues to hold in-person services despite orders to cease . This morning, piles of nails have been scattered at every entrance. pic.twitter.com/WcxkqtVZQw
— Sarah Ladd (@ladd_sarah) April 12, 2020
This guy is across the street, but said he will not explain his signs any further and they speak for themselves. pic.twitter.com/FbEQODfEBH
— Sarah Ladd (@ladd_sarah) April 12, 2020
But people cleaned up the nails, the lot filled up and about 50 decided to attend despite the warnings.
The police did show up and recorded the license plate numbers that were in the lot, including the plates of the reporters who were there to cover the story.
The pastor, Rev. Jack Roberts, said he didn’t tell his parishioners they had to attend or not. “Everybody has to do what they feel comfortable with.”
Roberts and some of the others covered their license plates, but the police took their VIN numbers of the cars instead.
The parking lot. pic.twitter.com/rearSXWqQc
— Sarah Ladd (@ladd_sarah) April 12, 2020
Putting notices on every car, even those belonging to the press and media pic.twitter.com/2LEtzkM7zf
— Sarah Ladd (@ladd_sarah) April 12, 2020
Notice how the police weren’t wearing masks or completely keeping with social distancing there.
A better look at the notice pic.twitter.com/THVmA7mDuc
— Sarah Ladd (@ladd_sarah) April 12, 2020
According to the Courier-Journal, the police appeared to believe that Maryville was the only church that violated the order. There were drive-in services where people stayed in their cars. Those services weren’t ticketed. The folks who stayed in their cars listening to the Maryville service did not receive notices as the other cars did.
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