GOP Governor Chastised, Denounced for Blocking ‘The Only Black Woman in the Kentucky Legislature’
Lawmaker Says She ‘Cannot Imagine How the Only Black Woman in the Kentucky Legislature Is a Threat to You’
A report by the nonprofit investigative journalism powerhouse ProPublica finds that 22 federal agencies and every governor that responded are blocking nearly 1300 people on social media. Kentucky’s Tea Party Republican governor Matt Bevin is blocking more than half of those himself.
Monday morning, Kentucky Democratic lawmaker Rep. Attica Woodson Scott†found she was one of those blocked by Gov. Bevin.
Posting a screenshot of the message she received when trying to access Gov. Bevin’s profile on Twitter, Rep. Scott took to the social media platform to share the news – and her outrage – saying she “cannot imagine how the only Black woman in the Kentucky legislature is a threat to you.”
Good morning! I was blocked over the weekend from following your governor. Very mature, Matthew. .@GovMattBevin I do not care at all for your politics and cannot imagine how the only Black woman in the Kentucky legislature is a threat to you. pic.twitter.com/qfIoZ38nWW
— Attica Woodson Scott (@atticascott) December 18, 2017
Her message did not stop there.
Suggesting Gov. Bevin’s action might be racist or sexist, she asked if it is his official policy to block state lawmakers. She called him an “insult” to the office and scolded him for not being able to handle political truths.
It is clear @GovMattBevin that you are threatened by the one woman of color in the entire legislature. I have dealt with men like you on many occasions. You feign condemnation of sexual harassment by House members but your axns are examples of what happens leading up to assault.
— Attica Woodson Scott (@atticascott) December 18, 2017
@GovMattBevin You are an insult to an office where the temporary occupant should welcome criticism and feedback. You touted yourself as a political outsider yet you cannot handle political truths from another elected outsider of a different gender and race. Tsk tsk.
— Attica Woodson Scott (@atticascott) December 18, 2017
On Twitter, others chimed in:
Smart women, apparently😂
— Notgoing Totellyou (@M5B1tch) December 18, 2017
I’ve neither seen nor read about such fragile egos within the ruling class, only authoritarian regimes. Hubris and condescension towards constituents has become the norm.
— Melinda Johnson (@Lilmo2nd) December 18, 2017
The fact you are a black woman in a position of power is a threat to him
— Dex (@Kingdex001) December 18, 2017
This is a disgrace to the Office. I thought it was bad enough when you blocked me, Governor. A public employee in the fire service for over 15 years, but to block my friend @atticascott is pathetic. https://t.co/iIVZblFVko
— Tim Thompson (@TimVThompson) December 18, 2017
@GovMattBevin blocks the first African American Woman to be elected to Ky. Legislature in 20 years. https://t.co/yuXDhHBKDx
— Thomas Novelly (@TomNovelly) December 18, 2017
The Governor of Kentucky, who avoids media accountability by communicating via Twitter, has blocked the only black elected woman in our legislature. His message is clearly “get to the back of the busâ€. He’s a racist pandering insult to all Kentuckians. @atticascott https://t.co/GmRFlR8aK4
— Marc Murphy (@MurphyCartoons) December 18, 2017
Also on Monday The Courier Journal reports Gov. Bevin’s office “broke the law” in how it operates its Facebook page.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s office violated state open records law by refusing to release certain “key words” it uses to filter “profane, obscene or clearly off-topic comments” from its Facebook page, according to Attorney General Andy Beshear.
The opinion, released Monday, follows an appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, which wants to know which terms Bevin’s office uses to screen comments from his Facebook page.
The opinion comes in the midst of a lawsuit against Bevin by the ACLU on behalf of two people who say they were unfairly blocked from the governor’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. The two, Mary Hargis of Morehead and Drew Morgan of Louisville, say the administration’s decision to block them violates their constitutional rights to free speech.
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