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Kentucky Senate Passes 'Blue Lives Matter' Bill

lrc.state.ky.us

Legislation that would include police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians on the list of protected groups related to hate crimes easily passed the Kentucky Senate Tuesday. Former police officer Senator Danny Carroll brought the bill to the Senate floor.

“We are simply stating that as a society we will no longer tolerate the attacks on these people simply because of the profession that they are in,” Carroll said.

One of the five "no" votes came from Lexington Senator Reggie Thomas. He says the bill is at least partly in response to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

“We have this bill to chill and handcuff protests made by racial minorities,” Thomas said.

The House measure now heads to the governor’s desk.

Stu Johnson is a reporter/producer at WEKU in Lexington, Kentucky.
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