Gloria Johnson, who survived the expulsion petitions and expelled Justin Jones (center), and Justin Pearson leave the Tennessee State Capitol after voting in the House representatives of the state of Tennessee. Photo: Cheney Orr/Reuters.
The Tennessee House of Representatives expelled two Democrats in retaliation against a vast majority of Republicans after they joined a protest calling for greater gun control following a deadly US school shooting. the state capital of Nashville.
Thursday's vote in Nashville over trio violating house rules sparked accusations of racism: lawmakers ousted Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who are both black, and white Gloria Johnson survived the vote to oust her . However, the Republican leadership denied that race was a factor.
A two-thirds majority is required to pass a motion for an exception.
Representatives Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones hold hands while walking through State House before the vote on exclusion. Photo: Reuters
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican who voted to exclude all three, denies any race and says Ms. Johnson's arguments may have influenced other members.
Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against Ms. Johnson's expulsion. . She later said, «Perhaps it has something to do with the color of my skin.»
Mr Jones, Mr Pearson and Ms Johnson joined the protest last week as hundreds of demonstrators filled the State Capitol calling for gun control measures. As the protesters filled the galleries, all three went to the front of the hall of the house with a bullhorn and took part in the chant. Three representatives in petitions for expulsion admitted that they had violated the rules of conduct at home.
The protest followed the shooting at Covenant School, a private Christian school, where seven people were killed, including three children.< /p> < img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/a3da6319ba5538b124bdb91de6e2a12b.jpg" />State Troopers block the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers as the vote draws in. Photo: George Walker IV/AP. Most state legislatures have the power to expel members, but this is usually used as a punishment for legislators accused of serious misconduct, rather than as a weapon against political opponents, according to the Associated Press.
There is a Republican supermajority in the House with 75 Republicans and 23 Democrats.
President Joe Biden criticized the expulsion. “Three children and three officials shot dead in another mass shooting. And what are Republican Party officials focused on? Punishment of lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful demonstrators in a call to action. This is shocking, undemocratic and unprecedented,” Mr. Biden tweeted.
The ousted Mr. Pearson later told reporters, “We are losing our democracy. It is not normal. It's not normal"
He said the three representatives «have broken a house rule because we are fighting for children who are dying from gunshots.» violence and people in our communities who want to end the proliferation of guns in our communities.»
Rep. Gino Bulso said the three Democrats have «virtually mutinied.»
» The gentleman shows no remorse.» Mr. Bulso spoke about Mr. Jones. "He doesn't even realize that what he did was wrong. So not expelling him would mean simply inviting him and his colleagues to stage a mutiny on the floor of the house.” floor of the house on Thursday. Photo: Reuters.
Two expelled politicians may disappear for a short time, reports AP. District commissions in their respective districts may choose replacements to serve until a special election is called, and they will also be eligible to run in a special election.
Under Tennessee's constitution, legislators cannot be expelled for the same offense twice.
Under the Tennessee constitution, legislators can be expelled if two-thirds of their House votes in favor of exclusion. The first vote for Mr. Jones was 72-25. Ms. Johnson's position stood by one vote, 65-30. Mr Pearson was eliminated 69-26.
Ms Johnson, a retired teacher, says her concerns about the school shooting were personal, recalling a day in 2008 when students ran out of the cafeteria to meet her because the student had just been shot.
“The trauma on these faces, you will never, ever forget. I don’t want to forget about it,” she said.
Thousands flocked to the Capitol to support Mr. Jones, Mr. Pearson, and Ms. Johnson on Thursday, cheering and cheering outside the House chamber loud enough to drown out the proceedings.
All three held hands as they walked across the floor, and Mr. Pearson raised his fist during the oath of allegiance.
After giving himself a chance to defend himself ahead of the vote, Mr. Jones said Republicans responded to the shooting with a different kind of attack. “We called on all of you to ban assault weapons, and you are responding with an attack on democracy,” he said.
Justin Pearson waves to his supporters in the gallery, saying the last words on the floor of the house. Photo: AP
In late March, armed shooter Audrey Hale, who was born female but identified as male, killed three students. and three adults at Covenant School, where Hale attended before he was killed by police.
In 2019, lawmakers faced pressure to expel former Republican Representative David Byrd over allegations of sexual misconduct relating to back to when he was a high school basketball coach three decades ago. Republicans declined to take action, indicating that he was re-elected after the allegations surfaced. Byrd retired last year.
Last year. The State Senate expelled Democrat Katrina Robinson after she was found guilty of using about $3,400 in federal grant money for wedding expenses instead of a nursing school.
Before that, state legislators last expelled a House member in 2016, when voted 70 to 2 to remove Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham from office following allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with at least 22 women in his four years in office.
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