Earlier this year two Tennessee Democrats were expelled by the Republican State House majority. Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson both Black, were removed from their elected positions by the House Republicans. For speaking out against gun violence. The two men along with their Democratic colleague Rep. Gloria Johnson became known as the “Tennessee Three”.
The “Tennessee Three” all spoke out against a Tennessee school shooting that occurred just days before. Their show of solidarity for the victims led to the Republican Majority. To vote to expel the three representatives from their positions. Once the votes were tallied the two Justin’s were expelled but their white colleague Rep. Gloria Johnson. Was ultimately spared from expulsion. The expulsion of the two young black men. Was seen as racially motivated and condemned nationwide.
The two Representatives were reinstated by their local government officials, but only temporarily. It took winning a special election held earlier this month. For the two young men to be fully reinstated to their elected positions.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/justin-jones-wins-house-seat-tennessee-three-justin-pearson/
Then yesterday during a special session called on by Republican Governor Bill Lee. To enact an order of protection law in response to the mass killings at the Covenant School. In which three children and three adults were killed. The same mass shooting that the “Tennessee Three” was protesting when the two representatives were expelled. The special session was called by the governor because the Republicans failed to pass meaningful legislation during their regular session.
After more than a week of the special session, no legislation has been passed. Republicans did propose a bill that would allow private schools to create their own handgun-carrying policies. Rep Jones called the proposal “asinine”, “reprehensible” and “insulting”. Leading Republicans to rule Jones out of order for his logical opinion.
Later that day Jones was ruled off-topic during a discussion over a bill to allow a local police or sheriff’s office to assign an officer to a school that doesn’t already have one.
Jones in response to the bill said “What our schools need are mental health professionals. We need funding for mental health, for counselors. We need to pay our teachers better. We don’t need more police in our schools,”
The reasonable response by Jones. Was then met with a vote to silence him by the Republican majority. The 70-20 vote against Rep. Jones went along party lines. The vote’s results spurred all of the Democrats to walk out of the session, in solidarity with Jones.
It’s just another disgusting display of Republican’s attack on the democratic process. Their racially motivated retribution against those who refuse to stand by silently. As the GOP refuses to enact meaningful gun control legislation across the country. Instead, they tried to shift the focus to other pressing non-related issues. Such as mental health or arming teachers. Because they are handcuffed to NRA lobbyists who pay to have Republicans kill any potential gun control legislation.
In GOP-led states such as Tennessee, the playbook is quite clear. They use their power to squash democratic debate. If that doesn’t work they change the laws to protect their hold on power. Disenfranchising the minority party and their voters. Their autocratic tendencies erode our democratic institutions. A once slippery slope is quickly becoming a water slide.
It’s clear that Tennessee Republicans care more about silencing a passionate young elected official. Then they do about saving children Statewide from senseless mass shootings. Because they have easily voted on multiple occasions to silence or expel Black Democrats. Just for doing the job they were elected to do. These Democrats are standing up for their electorate and future victims of gun violence. But when the time comes to enact laws to prevent gun violence. Republicans not only failed to pass anything during their regular session. It appears that they have also squandered the special session they’ve been given to complete the task. If nothing is accomplished by House Republicans today. It looks as though they will just resort to doing what they do best. Like Rep Justin Jones says it’s time for Republicans to protect children, not guns!
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