The Tennessee House of Representatives is set to reconvene Monday, with the Nashville Metropolitan Council meeting to consider the recent expulsion of two young Black lawmakers. The expulsion, which was a two-thirds majority vote cast by their Republican colleagues, has sparked national attention to racial dynamics in the state's top legislative body. Demonstrators are expected to gather at the Capitol to protest the expulsion and the outcome of the Council's meeting is yet to be seen.
Posts tagged as “The Tennessee House of Representative”
Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic lawmakers, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, for participating in an unauthorized protest against gun violence on the chamber floor. Governor Bill Lee has called for a special election to fill the vacant seats, and the Tennessee Three have been invited to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Rep. Gloria Johnson survived the expulsion vote by one vote.
On Thursday, the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, in response to their participation in a peaceful gun protest. This decision has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, sparking a national debate on the issue of gun control and the power of the Republican party to silence dissenting voices. President Joe Biden released a statement condemning the decision, calling it "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent".
Over 250 legislators from across the United States have signed a letter condemning the proposed expulsion of three Democratic legislators in Tennessee for protesting gun violence on the state House floor. The letter calls the proposed expulsion an "anti-democratic" attempt to "silence" elected leaders on an important issue and a "clear violation of the First Amendment". It calls on the Tennessee House of Representatives to reconsider its actions and protect the right of its members to speak out on behalf of their constituents.
Tennessee Republicans have proposed a resolution to expel three Democratic state representatives from the House of Representatives for their role in a gun control protest at the Capitol last Thursday. The resolution has been met with strong opposition from Democrats and gun control advocates, and if passed, would be the first time in the state’s history that a lawmaker has been expelled from the House. The resolution is expected to be taken up by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, where it will be debated and voted on.