By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Roughly a dozen people traveled to the VFW Edwin P. Barlow Post 5906 off U.S. 31-E in Glasgow to participate in a Freedom of Speech public meeting to ask questions of Matthew Stevens, one of the board members of Refuge Bowling Green that has proposed placing 30 individual refugees in Barren County.
The discussion regarding the 30 refugees publicly began during the June 24 Glasgow City Council meeting when Co-Founder Daniel Tarnagda and Stevens addressed some of the misinformation regarding the proposed settlement. The topic was again brought into the public forum when the Barren County Fiscal Court had a public discussion on the matter during the July special-called meeting. Despite this some community members were unsatisfied with either their answers, the situation or both.
According to event organizer Royce Bunch this town hall had the simple goal of “educat[ing] the community” by allowing everyone at least five minutes to speak, voice their opinion and/or positions, and to ask questions. He is also the founder of USA Veteran Combat Brothers — a “community guardian” group that was established in 2020 to “help in any emergencies” and that provides free security to churches and nonprofit events —
Under the parameters set forth by the VFW bylaws, which includes, among other things, no political speech, vulgar language or outbursts — which was not entirely followed as the chairman had to call for order once as the town hall became increasingly heated — Stevens, both a representative of the nonprofit and a resident of Barren County, was given the floor first.
While standing beside the American flag Stevens provided some brief autobiographical information and mentioned the attendees of the Fourth Amendment, which says, in part, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects…shall not be violated.”
The questions primarily came from the table with Michelle Snyder, pictured above, Chelene Nightingale and David Dickerson. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Many questions regarding housing of the refugees could not be answered, due to concerns of privacy and safety, Steven said. David Dickerson, who is a former Barren County Judge-Executive, did not believe Stevens was being forthright with his answers.
Former Barren County Judge-Executive David Dickerson left 30 minutes prior to the end of the town hall claiming Stevens was obfuscating and deflecting. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
“It seems to me this man is the master of the filibuster…[he’s] filibustered and deflected every time,” Dickerson said. He and several others left the meeting 30 minutes before it officially ended.
Not everyone present was against the refugee’s resettlement to Barren County. Gerald Eubank, a long-time community member, said that while he initially came out of “curiosity” he supports Refuge BG’s mission even offering to personally help the refugees with housing and transportation, if needed.
“I support the refugee program and what [Steven’s] is doing,” Eubank said. “Refugees are normally the type of people we want. They are people who are seeking a better life and are escaping an existence they can no longer cope with. They are not illegal immigrants…they are completely legal and what they’re doing is legal. I think these people will do a lot more for Barren County than Barren County will do for them if you give them the chance.”
Another voice of support came from VFW Quartermaster Eric Milledge.
VFW Quartermaster Eric Milledge speaks in favor of the refugee settlement. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
“I don’t see a problem with this,” Milledge said. “This country was founded on what [Stevens is] doing.”
At the conclusion of the two-hour meeting, Ernie Wagoner spoke against the settlement program citing the numerous unknowns and the broader immigration issue.
“Our state has done enough but I will make an exception, if somebody from Iraq [or Afghanistan] that helped our military [then] I’ll be standing out there with a flag waving on, patting them on the back telling them how glad I am that they’re here…but just willy-nilly coming in and the unknown is where we’re all having problems,” Wagoner said. “I think the job [Stevens] is doing is tremendous if it’s the right people.”
Bunch said he wanted these Freedom of Speech town halls to occur weekly on Thursdays but, at the time of publication, announced the meetings would no longer be at the VFW for its possible divisive nature. No new venue has been announced.
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