After a contentious session in the Tennessee House on Thursday two Democrat state representatives were expelled from office by their congressional colleagues.
Thursday afternoon, State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) (pictured above) was officially removed from the Tennessee state legislature by a vote of 72-25.
Members fell short in their effort to expel fellow Knoxville-area Democrat State Rep. Gloria Johnson (pictured below) by one vote, 65-30. A super majority of 66 was required.
Johnson’s successful defense hinged on the veteran lawmaker’s comparatively placid role in the takeover of the House Floor on March 30. The former teacher did not hold up signs or pound the podium, unlike her Democrat cohorts Jones and Pearson.
Consideration of Resolution HR0063 to expel State Rep Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) (pictured below) ended Thursday evening with the removal of the progressive firebrand by a vote of 69-26.
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During the Thursday session, lawmakers voted to enact resolution and HR0065, officially expelling Jones with a vote of 72-25.
Jones was expelled after his participation in a riot at the Capitol one week ago, and had an opportunity to speak for 20 minutes before facing questions from House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Cumberland County) and others.
Jones, in part, blamed the alleged influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA) upon Republican lawmakers in the Tennessee House.
He also claimed that he was simply standing up against gun violence on behalf of their constituents.
One of the main points of contention was that Jones used a bullhorn during an active session during Thursday’s right, while rioters attempted to break into the Capitol chambers, where state legislators’ offices are located.
Video from earlier in the day shows the now-expelled lawmaker and his counterparts entering the Tennessee House with fists raised, to much fanfare.
The #TennesseeThree, Rep. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson, and Justin Pearson, walk into the House floor for the vote on their expulsion.
Hundreds of students from all over the state of Tennessee are here to support them in this fight for democracy. #Nashville pic.twitter.com/Bg8cXTgrte
— March For Our Lives ☮️ (@AMarch4OurLives) April 6, 2023
Throughout the day, the House gallery was packed with protestors. More protestors gathered outside, many protesting for anti-gun policies.
Before the session, Jones circulated a letter to supporters asking them not to shout or scream inside the House gallery, warning that they would be thrown out of the gallery for such behavior.
He compared his supporters to the witnesses of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
“Personally, I am begging you not to get kicked out of the gallery,” he wrote. “Today, I pray that you will be a witness just as the women at the crucifixion of Jesus were present, to tell the truth about the assault on democracy in the state of Tennessee.”
The Tennessee GOP shared the full letter to its Twitter account.
It’s never been about change for the 3 #TennesseeMe members. Their only interest is being in the spotlight. Today, they got what the wanted – the spotlight is on them, and suddenly they’re capable of inciting peace during session, instead of chaos. Where were your calls for… https://t.co/fQDhb2NcZh pic.twitter.com/MLTw0qeDra
— TN House Republicans (@tnhousegop) April 6, 2023
Thursday’s House Floor session began with a debate over HB 0332, which would provide schools with funding to hire armed security guards.
Pearson spoke out during the debate, saying that arming schools would contribute to the “school to prison pipeline,” while also warning that it could lead to “gun battles” in schools, or that a school resource officer could accidentally shoot an innocent student.
Rep. William Lamberth (R-Sumner County) responded by saying that schools with armed guards are not meant to be “prisons” to keep students in, but rather to be “fortresses” to keep bad actors out.
HB 0332 eventually passed the State House by an overwhelming margin.
The only “no” votes were from Jones, Johnson, Pearson and Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Shelby County).
The House passed further bills regarding mental health treatment, combatting overdoes, preventing parental fraud, wherein a man is tricked into believing that he fathered a child with a woman, a bill addressing barber and cosmetology licensure among others.
Last week’s anti-gun riot stemmed from a mass shooting at the hands of Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who identified as transgender, who killed six people in a murderous rampage at The Covenant Presbyterian School last Monday.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Image “Rep. Justin Jones” by Tennessee General Assembly.
decorum
dĭ-kôr′əm
noun
Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety.
The conventions or requirements of polite behavior.
The appropriateness of an element of an artistic or literary work, such as style or tone, to its particular circumstance or to the composition as a whole.
I’m from Chicago, and these riotous actions by those 2 Democrat reps reminds me of the black panthers back in the 60s! And now one of them is boo-hooing at the mic, calling the statehouse members KKK??? How ridiculous, we have 6 murdered innocents from the school shooting, and one of these reps claim armed security guards are not going to protrct the kids. But instead seciruty are going to have a shootout between themselves, or towards the staff and students?? Typical tool of a Democrat, pushing fear instrad of logic! Their racism is showing. Would it be different if the three 9 yr old students killed were bkack?