“Our goal is to be prepared. To make sure that what happened in the US Capitol never happens here,” Beshear, a Democrat, told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day” Friday, adding that Kentucky National Guard has already activated for help. .
In addition to preparedness, Beshear stressed the need to “recognize these people as they are”.
“We got to know that these people intend to cause violence, that they are domestic terrorists, and stop playing pie with these so-called militias, thinking they just dress up like it’s Halloween and act tough,” Beshear said Friday. .
“If we don’t respond, if there isn’t full condemnation, this will be the new normal and that would be a pretty scary America.”
After the U.S Capitol uprising on Jan. 6, militiamen held a rally at the Kentucky state house, where, according to Beshear, one of the militiamen showed up with zip ties.
Beshear has been personally threatened in his own state for months. After his response to the Covid-19 pandemic in May, militia members hanged the governor in effigy.
Others walked past the barriers at the governor’s mansion where Beshear lives with his family, “singing and clumsy,” so he could come out, he said. Beshear was not at the governor’s house that day.
“What I’m worried about is not me – it’s anyone out there who could be threatened and intimidated by such people,” Beshear said Friday. ‘And that’s why everyone is needed for it. Everyone across the country says, “no more.” “