Tennessee's Republican legislature approves a new congressional map that splits the state's majority-Black district in Memphis, a move expected to favor Republicans in the 2024 midterms. The redistricting follows a Supreme Court ruling limiting racial gerrymandering protections.
Posts tagged as “Gloria Johnson”
Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson has announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn. Johnson, a gun safety advocate and survivor of a 2008 school shooting, is running to ensure Tennesseans have a voice in the national conversation on gun control. If elected, Johnson would be the first female Senator elected by Tennessee voters.
Two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, have won back their legislative seats in the Tennessee House after being expelled in April for participating in a peaceful gun protest. The protest was held in response to a Nashville school shooting, and the pair will be present for the upcoming special session to discuss potential changes to the state's gun control laws. Their victory is a sign of the importance of gun control reform in Tennessee.
President Joe Biden welcomed three Tennessee lawmakers to the Oval Office to thank them for their courage in facing expulsion for participating in gun control protests. Vice President Kamala Harris was also present, and Biden described the expulsion votes as “shocking” and “undemocratic.” The Tennessee Three have become symbols of the fight for gun reform, and their meeting with Biden is seen as a sign of his commitment to the issue.
Tennessee House Republicans are facing internal strife after voting to expel two Black Democratic representatives, but sparing an older white woman for protesting lax gun laws. An audio recording reveals Republican lawmakers aggressively confronting their caucus members who voted against Johnson's expulsion, leading to accusations of racism and drawing national attention to the GOP-led House. The expulsion votes have sparked concerns about the party's chances in the 2022 elections and highlighted the need for increased diversity in the state's legislature.
Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones was reinstated this week after being expelled from the House of Representatives for protesting gun violence in response to a school shooting in Nashville. His reinstatement has garnered national attention, and he has vowed to continue fighting for stricter gun laws. Jones referenced the students who motivated his and fellow Democrats’ call for action on guns when he was expelled, saying “It was students walking out of classes and taking to this Capitol that led us into the well that day, calling for common sense gun laws.”
Nashville Metro Council has voted to reappoint Tennessee Democratic Rep. Justin Jones to the state House, following his expulsion from the House last Thursday for participating in a peaceful gun protest. Supporters of Jones gathered to show their support, and the vote is a sign of solidarity with the young, Black men who were silenced for speaking out against gun violence.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled from the GOP-dominated House of Representatives last week, is shocked at reports of legislators threatening local officials with funding cuts if he is reappointed. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also participated in the protest, survived the vote and was not expelled. The Metro Council is meeting Monday to consider reappointing Rep. Jones, and the outcome of the meeting will show whether they stand up to the threats made by the state legislature.