Democracy died a little bit today

By Terri O'Rorke, 6 April 2023
Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones

Today in Tennessee, democracy died a little bit at the hands of racist Republicans in the Tennessee legislature. Let’s back up a bit . . .

On March 29, 2023, six people, three of them nine year old children, were gunned down in yet ANOTHER mass shooting, this time in Nashville, Tennessee. Three days later, hundreds of people including adults and school age children gathered at the Tennessee Capitol, utilizing their First Amendment right to peacefully protest. Which they were doing for stricter gun laws. Three Tennessee House legislators, Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, all Democrats, added their voices by speaking out against gun violence and urged their colleagues to vote for common sense gun legislation. They did this on March 30 in the legislature, KNOWING they were breaking a House rule but felt strongly they had to give their constituents a voice. 

"I fully acknowledge that. But I broke that rule in order to fight for Tennessee's children, Tennessee's teachers, Tennessee's churches. We have got to address this issue. And we have got to make sure that both sides of the aisle are talking about this issue. And I will break protocol if I need to fight for Tennessee kids," Johnson said. "2,000 people were outside the doors begging us to talk about gun violence. The least we could do is acknowledge that they were there... that they cared and they're fighting for their community." 

The Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives were not happy with that. Johnson and Jones were stripped of their committee assignments because of the chants while Pearson had no assignments as he was newly elected in January. Clearly that wasn’t enough. . .

Today, April 6, the Tennessee House held a hearing to vote to EXPEL the three Democrats because of their involvement in a protest concerning gun laws. For what they referred to as “disorderly” gun reform chants from legislators trying to end senseless gun violence.

For exercising their First Amendment right. 

Today I watched, in real time, the blatant, in-your-face act of racism in the state of Tennessee. Rep. Jones was expelled in a 72-25 vote. Rep. Johnson was retained in a 65-30 vote. Rep. Pearson was expelled in a 69-26 vote. For those who are unaware, Rep. Pearson and Jones are Black, Rep. Johnson is White. 

This expulsion vote was unlike any other vote in Tennessee history.

This does not bode well for democracy not only in Tennessee but in our country. We must remain ever vigilant that something similar NEVER happens here in New Hampshire!