A group of eastern Kentucky activists are planning a protest against some Trump administration policies in Laurel County this weekend.
Organizers with K-Y Resist say they’re mostly protesting against the contents of the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which just passed the U.S. Senate.
Andrew Martin is one of those organizers. He says they’re most concerned with cuts to Medicaid included in the budget bill. A study from the University of North Carolina says those proposed cuts could put 35 of Kentucky’s rural hospitals in danger of closing.
“Not only will this hurt people and their jobs at the hospitals, but also people who live in rural areas. If they have an emergency, they can't drive all the way to Lexington from somewhere like Manchester or London,” Martin said.
The group hosted a similar protest in Manchester last week. Organizers say it brought a few dozen to the town, plus counter protestors. Martin says they’ve been speaking with town officials, and will have a police presence to make sure the protest stays peaceful.
“They've worked with us very well on that, and they seem to have no issue with having a police presence there and helping us out, because safety is our main priority,” he said.
They’ll be meeting in front of the Laurel County Courthouse in London Saturday afternoon.
