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WEST CHESTER TWP.

As Gov. John Kasich was urging about 200 supporters to fight to take back our value system during a campaign rally Monday night in West Chester Twp., the president of the Cincinnati Tea Party and others say they were fighting to keep from being thrown off the premises.

Ann Becker, tea party president and Butler County resident, said she was denied access to the invitation-only event at Voice of America MetroPark by private security because she was protesting against the Common Core, which are a set of state standards for what students should know and be able to do in math and English at each grade level. Becker, who was wearing an Ohioans Against Common Core T-shirt, said she and other protesters were stopped as they tried to enter the rally.

I was invited to the event. I had RSVPed to the event, Becker said. When I came to the door, I was turned away with a lie, being told I didnt RSVP. I was told that if I didnt leave the premises I would be arrested.

Butler County GOP Executive Chairman Todd Hall said security at the governors rally made a judgment call regarding a loud and caustic outside protester who suddenly wanted inside the event.

There must have been concern about safety or to disrupting the peaceful nature of the event itself, Hall said. While the Republican Party is open to all views and expressions of free speech within or even outside our party, we always stand in strong support of public safety officials and the difficult decisions they often have to make.

Kasich campaign spokeswoman Connie Wehrkamp added: Unfortunately a few people chose to be disruptive and were asked to leave by security.

But Becker maintains that she was not loud or out of line; she just wanted answers.

For the past five years, I have been a very vocal opponent of the expansion of government and fiscal irresponsibility, she said. During the past year, my fellow small government activists and I have taken great issue with the adoption of the Common Core State Standards in our state. At many of Governor Kasichs stops on the campaign trail, we have protested against Common Core.

Becker said the Butler County Republican Party chose to threaten her, rather than risk the governor being asked about Common Core.

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Tea party leader kicked out of Kasich rally