Effigy conference in Frankfort

some perspective on racism

Effigy of kentucky's governor made national headlines.

Today... a group called focus on race relations gathered to talk about not just that hanging and its message.... but also the 111th anniversary of a real lynching of african-american john maxey in frankfort.

Abc 36's christy bollinger brings us some perspective from the discussion.

L3 christy: white l3: top story white community of frankfort reacts to governor's hanging in effigy l3: top story white governor andy beshear (d) - kentucky l3: james freelance journalist who filmed effigy hanging l3: top story white community of frankfort reacts to governor's hanging in effigy l3: top frankfort reacts to governor's hanging in effigy l3: top story white anna marie rosen member, focus on race relations frankfort l3 christy: white take sot: :10 "forr frankfort says the message is simple.

Kentuckians cannot and should not tolerate what happened, when a group of protesters hung the governor in effigy."

Take sot: :07 "i will tell you that sunday, on a sunday, here at the capitol was something that i can't say i ever expected."

Take vo: like many... governor andy beshear was shocked to see himself as a dummy..

Hung from a tree.

Take sot: :11 "they proceeded to hang him.

And i just remember like i just started filming had my camera, and my phone and i was live streaming on facebook so i was like you know what people have to see that this heinous act is going on right now."

Take vo: freelance journalist gerry seavo james who happened to be covering the rally was stunned.

Take sot: :16 "the way that terry threw the rope around the tree, it triggered me to think about like lynchings that how african americans have been lynched, historically, and just the scene.

It was happy, jovial, kids were around people taking pictures, and it just was very like haunting."

Take vo: several who spoke in frankfort shared a common theme ... the hanging sent message of hate...and underlying racism...a message that could have been avoided with a little thought take sot: :05 "it was a very negative message.

And something much more positive would've been appropriate."

Take sot: :08 "if you're trying to put out a message about tyranny and oppression and trying to affect change and get people on your side, is this the way to do it?"

Take vo: james says he doesn't believe the protesters really intended to be racist... and they should've taken a deeper look at what lynching means historically.

Take sot: :09 "you know i encountered lots of racism in my life, but i've been privileged not to encounter such a heinous act right in front of me, and so it sticks with me."

Take sot: :12 "the governor says even with what happened to him, he'll never be able to understand the depth of emotions that racism has brought on for years.

At the state capitol, christy bollinger, abc 36 news."