A Democratic lawmaker was expelled from the Tennessee statehouse for participating in a gun control demonstration that halted legislative proceedings there last week.
The House of Representatives voted 72-25 to expel 27-year-old Justin Jones, who led protestors in slogans from the House floor.
Two additional Democratic legislators, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson, also face expulsion.
Since a school murder, hundreds of protestors have descended upon the State Capitol.
The attack on Nashville’s Covenant School on March 27 resulted in the deaths of six, including three minors.
Mr. Jones’ expulsion from the Tennessee General Assembly by the Republican-dominated body represents the first such expulsion without the support of both parties in the state’s modern history.
The vote on Thursday followed a contentious day in the House. The expulsion resolution had been the subject of lengthy debate amongst lawmakers. The chamber was filled with the cries of protesters who continue to throng the statehouse.
Former Representative Jones, who entered the chamber holding hands with Representatives Pearson and Johnson, described the expulsion vote as a “farce of democracy” on the House floor.
He stated that the measure was a “violation.” It is an attempt to suppress and overturn the will of the more than 200,000 Tennesseans that we represent.
Mr. Jones and two of his colleagues took to the House floor on Thursday, chanting “No action, no peace” and bringing nearly an hour’s worth of proceedings to a halt.
The three legislators admitted they violated House rules by speaking without formal recognition, but insisted their actions did not merit expulsion.
Republicans stated in a resolution that the three had brought “disorder and dishonor to the House.” And on Thursday, some Republican members asserted that the actions of the Democrats constituted an insurrection, with Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton comparing the incident to the Capitol Riots.
“What they did today was comparable to, if not worse than, an insurrection in the State Capitol,” he stated.
Expulsion decisions are extremely uncommon. In Tennessee, only twice has the House of Representatives voted to expel a member. Once in 1980 against an incumbent lawmaker convicted of soliciting a bribe. And again in 2016 against a majority whip facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
However, these expulsions were strongly supported by both parties.
Before Thursday’s expulsion votes, the House of Representatives discussed more than 20 measures, some of which dealt with school safety.
Mr. Jones spoke multiple times throughout the discussion, accusing his colleagues of enacting “band-aid” legislation in response to mass shootings.
Mr. Jones stated, “Action will not make our students safer.” “As elected officials, I believe we have a moral obligation to listen to these terrified, pleading for their lives, frontline youth who are terrified and in tears.”
In response, the visibly agitated Republican Mark White said to Mr. Jones, “Look at me. Consider the other 97 [legislators]. This is precisely what we intend to accomplish.”Mr. White continued, “I’ve been up here for fourteen years, while you’ve only been a member of this assembly for two or three months.”
Police say the Nashville shooter lawfully bought seven guns.
Three of the weapons were used to kill three minors aged nine and three school employees.
