Lexington activists call on Beshear to cancel rent, mortgage payments because of COVID-19
A caravan of about 20 vehicles carrying protesters drove through downtown Lexington and some nearby residential neighborhoods Saturday to urge Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to cancel rent and mortgage payments as the state grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
The protest was organized by the Lexington Housing Justice Collective, Lexington Democratic Socialists of America and Kentucky Party for Socialism and Liberation.
The Kentucky Supreme Court has ordered that eviction papers can’t be filed until at least June 30, but the court stated in the order that its action does not “suspend or otherwise excuse an individual’s duty to pay rent or to comply with any other obligation under tenancy.”
“Mass evictions are coming to Kentucky once the emergency ends,” Beau Revlett, an organizer with Lexington Housing Justice, said in a phone interview before the protest. “Landlords are just waiting to be able to evict them.”
He said the organizers of the protest want a more long-term strategy — and one that does not rely on “means testing” to determine who should get help — to ensure that no one loses their home because of the COVID-19 crisis.
“We believe that there should be a universal policy,” Revlett said.
They also are calling for federal legislators to pass the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act proposed by Democratic Rep. Ihan Omar.
Revlett said supporters began contacting the governor in March, reaching out through a letter writing campaign and petitions, but “those actions have not been enough.”
“This is the first step in what will be a continuing campaign,” he said.
This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
