Security tightens in Tennessee as the state House prepares to vote on the eviction of three Democratic members
Heavy security attended the Tennessee House of Representatives as they prepare to vote on a resolution introduced by Republican leaders to expel three Democratic leaders for “disorderly conduct.”
Tennessee’s three Democratic lawmakers are facing the rare eviction vote for participating in gun control protests following the deadly Nashville school shooting.
Republicans in Tennessee accused the protesters and Democratic House members of disruption when they interrupted House proceedings on March 30 to join hundreds of protesters who marched on the state capitol last week calling for tougher gun laws.
Six people, including three nine-year-old children, were killed when Nashville gunman Audrey Hale opened fire at The Covenant School on March 27.
Heavy security attended the Tennessee House of Representatives as they prepare to vote on a resolution introduced by Republican leaders to expel three Democratic leaders for ‘disorderly conduct’
Protesters rallied and called for a ban on ‘assault weapons’ as the House of Representatives prepares to vote
Democratic members — Representatives Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson — representing about 20,000 voters used a megaphone to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform.
It illustrated the unrest in Nashville after a gunman killed three children and three staff members last week, sparking mass protests.
Jones and Johnson were stripped of their committee assignments by Republican leadership in the wake, Pearson, however, was not on a committee.
Votes for eviction are rare, and in Tennessee, the House of Representatives has voted to evict a member only twice since the Civil War.
One was for a sitting legislator convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip facing sexual misconduct allegations.
The resolution to expel the legislators states that they “brought disorder and dishonor to the House through their individual and collective actions.”
Two-thirds of the House must vote in favor of the eviction for it to pass.
Hundreds of people raided the Capitol last week demanding the Republican-led Statehouse pass gun control measures in the wake of the massacre of six people in Nashville at the hands of gunman Hale, 28.
Tennessee State Troopers blocked the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers on Thursday
Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones hold hands as they walk into the State House
Tennessee State Troopers stand guard outside the home’s front room
Rep. Justin Jones speaks in the state House as Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives prepare to vote on whether to expel him and two others
Rep. Justin Pearson gestures as he enters the state building
Rep. Justin Jones (center) Rep. Justin Pearson (back left) and Rep. Gloria Johnson (right) huddled on the floor of the House chamber. Tennessee Republicans try to oust the three House Democrats for using a megaphone to shout support for pro-gun control protesters in the House
A protester holds a sign as protesters gather ahead of the Republican vote to oust three Democratic members
Three adults — Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Michael Hill, 61 — were killed, along with three nine-year-old students: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney.
The House leadership later described it as an “insurrection,” monkey talk used around the attack on the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump in January 2021.
On Monday, three Republicans introduced resolutions to evict the three Democrats and successfully requested an expedited process with a vote on Thursday.
The resolutions allege that the three “knowingly and willfully brought disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives,” according to the Tennesseean newspaper.
The result was another chaos Monday when the first resolution, targeting Pearson, was introduced.
Protesters shouted from the galleries, and Pearson raised his fist in salute, while other Democrats raised their hands to object.
The crowd chanted, “Fascists! Fascists!’ and wagging their fingers and fists at members. Instead, the speaker called for state troops to clear the home’s galleries.
On Monday, Representatives Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson used a megaphone to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform as they face eviction
Johnson with protesters at the state capitol building last week demanding gun reform
Protesters last week as they gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol Building to demand action from lawmakers on gun control following the shooting at The Covenant School
Johnson later said she would consider a lawsuit if she was evicted, saying their protest was constitutionally protected.
“We’re going to push back and we’re going to fight this because it’s unprecedented and utterly ridiculous,” she told the Tennessee.
She accused the Republicans of double standards.
“We had a child molester over for years, they helped him get re-elected and did nothing to expel him,” she added.
“We made members pee in each other’s seats and nothing happened. But if you talk on the floor without permission, you will be expelled.”
House Speaker Cameron Sexton also announced that the three lawmakers had lost their committee duties and said more sentences could be on the way.
A few hours later, Jeremy Faison, chairman of the House Republican Caucus, referred to Jones as the “former representative” during the evening session.
After the votes, House Democrats said they supported the three.
Lawmakers leave Monday evening after protests in the chamber
“The Democratic Caucus has formally voted unanimously to oppose the baseless eviction resolutions and will vigorously oppose them should they vote in the House of Representatives,” they said in a statement.
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators also protested the resolutions.
This political retaliation is unconstitutional and morally bankrupt at this time.
“The people who elected us are calling for meaningful action to end gun violence and the people have a right to be heard through their duly elected representatives.”
US President Joe Biden called for a ban on assault weapons, while Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, proposed $155 million to put an armed guard in every public school in Tennessee and increase the presence of security at both strengthening public and private schools.