'He's a disgrace to our state.' Kentucky teachers outraged over Gov. Matt Bevin's sex abuse remarks

Mandy McLaren | The (Louisville) Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Kentucky Governor says children were abused because teachers rallied Kentucky's governor says children were physically harmed, poisoned, sexually assaulted, and tried drugs due to having the day off in April 2018.

LOUISVILLE — Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's "guarantee" that a teacher protest led to a child being sexually abused somewhere in Kentucky added to the outrage that many educators say they have been feeling for months.

"For the governor of the state of Kentucky to come out and basically say teachers are responsible for children being molested — are you serious?" said J.P. LaVertu, a Shelby County teacher. "He's a disgrace to our state."

Bevin's comments, which he made to reporters Friday evening, were widely condemned by educators and scorned by members of both parties.

"I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today, a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them," Bevin said. "I guarantee you somewhere today, a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were left alone because a single parent didn’t have any money to take care of them."

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Bevin made the comments just hours after the Republican-controlled legislature voted to override his vetoes of the tax reform and budget bills.

Hundreds of teachers from across the state had rallied in Frankfort to encourage legislators to override the vetoes to protect education funding.

Bevin said the teachers caused "hundreds of thousands of children" to be left alone across Kentucky.

"Children were harmed — some physically, some sexually, some were introduced to drugs for the first time — because they were vulnerable and left alone," Bevin continued.

Kentucky Education Association President Stephanie Winkler, who has sparred with the governor in recent weeks, said she was "appalled" by the remark.

"There is no rational comment I could make to that," Winkler said.

By Friday night, an online petition demanding that Bevin apologize was being shared widely on social media, while Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott called on Bevin to resign.

Bevin's office did not respond to a request for comment Saturday.

LaVertu was one of dozens of educators who traveled to Frankfort on Saturday for the final day of the legislative session.

Lavertu, a physical education teacher, said it was "completely wrong" for Bevin to say teachers across the state abandoned work on Friday.

Though 39 school districts shut down for the day, the vast majority remained open — including Shelby County.

"I was at school with my kids," LaVertu said, adding that he came to Frankfort on Saturday, in part, out of anger toward Bevin.

Dressed in red — a color teachers have worn all session to express their support for public education — some rallied in the Capitol rotunda, while others filled the viewing galleries in the House and Senate chambers.

In the afternoon, dozens seated in the Senate gallery leapt to their feet in a roar of applause when Minority Leader Ray Jones called on Republicans to admonish Bevin's words.

"He crossed the line when he insulted Kentucky’s public school teachers,” said Jones, a Democrat.

Shortly after, House Democrats filed a resolution to formally rebuke Bevin's comments.

Jerri Johnson, a retired teacher from Pike County, watched the day's events from the front-row of the Senate gallery, often craning forward with her hands clasped together.

She said Bevin's comments upset her as an educator but that the comments disrespected parents, too.

"What I took from it is that parents in Kentucky don’t take very good care of their children," she said.

But, Johnson added, “It didn’t surprise me," noting that Bevin's accusations were not the first disparaging words he used against teachers this session.

In recent months, Bevin criticized those resisting Republican efforts on pension reform as having a "thug mentality" and called protesting teachers "selfish and short-sighted."

Bevin's comments also sparked outrage among state lawmakers — including members of his own party.

"The disgusting comments by Governor Bevin insinuating that a peaceful protest by teachers would lead to sexual assault are reprehensible," said GOP state Sen. Maxwell Wise, chair of the Senate Education Committee.

Republican Sen. Whitney Westerfield also joined the criticism.

"I’m troubled, frustrated and disappointed by the Governor’s comments last night about teachers — once again needlessly and unjustly demonizing a group of professionals who, like the eight I met with for an hour before we convened, were engaging with legislators peacefully," Westerfield said in a tweet.

Democrats, unsurprisingly, seized on Bevin's comments.

"Our Governor threw another temper tantrum today. He was defeated soundly and his only response was to act out for attention," Rep. James Kay said on Twitter. "His comments and tweets are beneath the office."

Democratic state officials also joined the chorus of condemnation.

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes called Bevin's comments "disgusting and shameful."

Attorney General Andy Beshear — who has frequently butted heads with Bevin — said the comments were "morally reprehensible" and that they "must be condemned by all Kentuckians."

Contributing: Lucas Aulbach and Darcy Costello

Follow Mandy McLaren on Twitter: @mandy_mclaren