It might have been harsh, but these are the Left’s rules. When you engage in armed rebellion against the country, you get punished. You should be expelled when you’re a sitting member of the legislature. By ‘armed rebellion,’ I mean saying or doing anything that makes these precious liberal snowflakes upset. Tennessee is reeling from the heinous school shooting at a private Christian school committed by a transgender mass killer, Audrey Hale, a biological female who identified as male. Hale killed six people, including three children. Due to the description of the school shooter, the media has run away from the story faster than a road runner. Hale committed this violent act of mayhem on March 27, followed by mass unrest at the state capitol three days later, where scores of anti-gun and transgender rights activists stormed the building.
Tennessee Republicans, who hold a supermajority in the House, proposed a resolution to expel three state Democrats for their role, an act that hasn’t happened since the American Civil War. The capitol again devolved into mayhem when the resolution was proposed; police had to escort some of the rabble out of the gallery. There was no backing down from the state GOP, however, and these three Democrats could be gone soon (via Politico):
Galleries have remained quiet thru this morning’s business. Some have raised their arms to sign applause. Everyone is standing now, holding signs if they have them.
— Vivian Jones (@Vivian_E_Jones) April 6, 2023
Rep. @Justinjpearson raised his fist in solidarity with the galleries.
Crowd is yelling “vote no” outside. pic.twitter.com/iYpAxk1ZcX
Chamber and gallery were silent as Jones took the podium, but the crowd outside screamed cheers of support.@brotherjones_ begins his defense: pic.twitter.com/jn3kJcYIb2
— Vivian Jones (@Vivian_E_Jones) April 6, 2023
Tennessee's GOP-dominated House is preparing to vote on whether to expel three Democratic members for their role in a demonstration calling for gun control following the Nashville school shooting. https://t.co/ymVKtchg07
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 6, 2023
The Tennessee state House will decide Thursday whether to expel three Democratic members for joining gun violence protests inside the Capitol, a high stakes vote that has captured national attention for its unusual partisanship.
Three representatives are under threat of being removed from office by their GOP counterparts for participating in a gun violence protest last week in the aftermath of a school shooting that left multiple people dead.
Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson approached the lectern last week without being called on by House GOP leadership and toted a bullhorn to lead chants on the House floor, a stunt that temporarily suspended legislative business. House Speaker Cameron Sexton later likened their behavior to “an insurrection.”
Ahead of Thursday’s vote, tensions appeared high among lawmakers as they debated separate legislation, including a school safety bill that would require every school to have a resource officer or security guard. Members of the public filled the galleries and hallways to observe the session.
We’ll keep you updated.
UPDATE: Democratic Rep. Justin Jones has been expelled. The two other representatives facing expulsion, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson, will likely meet the same fate later today.
BREAKING: First of three Tennessee Democratic lawmakers who protested gun violence is expelled as voting begins in State House. https://t.co/zi9rz4meJh
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 6, 2023
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones speaks out after vote to expel him from state legislature: “This is setting a precedent that any member who voices dissent or opposition can be expelled from the legislative body. This is very unprecedented." pic.twitter.com/4PsiifVI4S
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 6, 2023
BREAKING: Republicans in Tennessee voted to expel Democratic Rep. @brotherjones_ for participating in gun violence protests.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 6, 2023
All three lawmakers expected to be expelled previously had badges deactivated and were stripped of committee assignments, @alexistmarshall reports. pic.twitter.com/rg1pCq4gY6
BREAKING: Tennessee’s GOP-controlled House expelled the first of three Democratic lawmakers over gun control protests. https://t.co/YDq1vvkfMW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 6, 2023
UPDATE II: Rep. Gloria Johnson survives expulsion vote.
Rep. @VoteGloriaJ is NOT EXPELLED.
— Vivian Jones (@Vivian_E_Jones) April 6, 2023
Vote is 65 to 30, one vote short of expulsion.
Here’s the moment: pic.twitter.com/gq3Oy7m0Pt
Here are the votes.
— Vivian Jones (@Vivian_E_Jones) April 6, 2023
Republicans Barrett, Baum, Bricken, Richey, Russell, Sparks, and Whitson broke with the party to vote no on Johnson’s expulsion. pic.twitter.com/s3i90TbP3j
Vice Mayor Jim Shulman has called for a special meeting for Monday to begin the process of appointing someone to fill Justin Jones' House seat.
— Nate Rau (@tnnaterau) April 6, 2023
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