*After taking part in a pro-gun control protest, three Tennessee Democrats face expulsion by the GOP.
Tennessee has been in the headlines for over a week following a school shooting last month in which Audrey Hale killed three children and three teachers. The incident prompted an anti-gun protest at the Tennessee Capitol where demonstrators urged lawmakers to pass gun control measures, The Black Wall Street Times reports.
Representatives Justin Jones (D-Nashville), Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) openly supported the protest and now face expulsion from Congress. Jones, Pearson, and Johnson reportedly spoke out of turn at Congress while calling for gun control measures on the House floor.
According to House Speaker Sexton, the three Democrats, two of whom are Black, chose to “break several rules of decorum and procedure on the House floor.”
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We support the #TennesseeThree who are facing expulsion from the state legislature for protesting against gun violence.
This is an attack on democracy.
Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Pearson, and Justin Jones, thank you for standing with your constituents.pic.twitter.com/0b8tA8JvzL
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) April 6, 2023
Jones, Pearson and Johnson have reportedly been stripped of their ID badges, limiting their access to the Capitol. They initially lost their committee memberships as a result of their support for gun control, according to The Black Wall Street Times.
The resolutions filed against the three politicians claim the three participated in “disorderly behavior” and that they “knowingly and intentionally brought disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives.”
Reps. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson entered the TN House chamber to chants of “Tennessee three.” The trio faces expulsion from the House later today. pic.twitter.com/I0PHfymOoH
— Adam Friedman (@friedmanadam5) April 6, 2023
Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Hendrell Remus said the expulsion is likely to pass.
In an interview with Newsweek, Remus said, “We anticipate that this is probably going to happen. And right now, we’re just in the stages of how do we navigate the legality of it after it happens. And then, you know, getting either these representatives re-elected to their roles, or new Democrats elected to those same seats.”
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