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| Tennessee statehouse expels Democrats for gun control protest | Tennessee statehouse expels Democrats for gun control protest |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Watch: Expelled lawmaker Justin Jones tells the BBC "world should be shocked" | Watch: Expelled lawmaker Justin Jones tells the BBC "world should be shocked" |
| Watch: Expelled lawmaker Justin Jones tells the BBC "world should be shocked" | Watch: Expelled lawmaker Justin Jones tells the BBC "world should be shocked" |
| The Tennessee statehouse has expelled two Democratic politicians who led a gun control protest that halted legislative proceedings last week. | The Tennessee statehouse has expelled two Democratic politicians who led a gun control protest that halted legislative proceedings last week. |
| In a rare move, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted 72-25 to expel Justin Jones and 69-26 to remove Justin Pearson. | In a rare move, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted 72-25 to expel Justin Jones and 69-26 to remove Justin Pearson. |
| But an expulsion vote failed against a third Democratic lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, who also joined the protest. | But an expulsion vote failed against a third Democratic lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, who also joined the protest. |
| Republicans said the trio had brought "disorder and dishonour to the House". | Republicans said the trio had brought "disorder and dishonour to the House". |
| Crowds of protesters have attended the State Capitol since a school shooting. | Crowds of protesters have attended the State Capitol since a school shooting. |
| The 27 March attack at Nashville's Covenant School killed six people, including three children. | The 27 March attack at Nashville's Covenant School killed six people, including three children. |
| The so-called "Tennessee Three" took to the House floor chanting "no action, no peace" during a protest on 30 March, which also saw hundreds of pro-gun control demonstrators converge on the statehouse. | The so-called "Tennessee Three" took to the House floor chanting "no action, no peace" during a protest on 30 March, which also saw hundreds of pro-gun control demonstrators converge on the statehouse. |
| Mr Jones, 27, and Mr Pearson, 28, used a megaphone and banged on the House lectern as they made rousing speeches and addressed the protesters who crowded around the chamber's public viewing platform. | Mr Jones, 27, and Mr Pearson, 28, used a megaphone and banged on the House lectern as they made rousing speeches and addressed the protesters who crowded around the chamber's public viewing platform. |
| "We don't want to be up here, but we have no choice but to find a way... to disrupt business as normal, because business as normal is our children dying," Mr Pearson said. | "We don't want to be up here, but we have no choice but to find a way... to disrupt business as normal, because business as normal is our children dying," Mr Pearson said. |
| The chamber's proceedings were brought to a standstill for nearly an hour. | The chamber's proceedings were brought to a standstill for nearly an hour. |
| All three also chanted "enough is enough" and "power to the people". Political analysists said Ms Johnson may have been spared expulsion because she did not use a megaphone. | All three also chanted "enough is enough" and "power to the people". Political analysists said Ms Johnson may have been spared expulsion because she did not use a megaphone. |
| However she has suggested that Republicans did not expel her because she is white, whereas Mr Jones and Mr Pearson are both black. | However she has suggested that Republicans did not expel her because she is white, whereas Mr Jones and Mr Pearson are both black. |
| What to know about the Tennessee expulsions | |
| Expelled Tennessee lawmaker vows to return - can he? | |
| US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, slammed the expulsions as "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent". | US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, slammed the expulsions as "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent". |
| Mr Jones told BBC News that the move had left 78,000 people in one of the state's most diverse districts without representation. | Mr Jones told BBC News that the move had left 78,000 people in one of the state's most diverse districts without representation. |
| He said an "extreme republican supermajority, almost completely a white caucus" had expelled the "two youngest black lawmakers because we stood demanding action on gun violence". | He said an "extreme republican supermajority, almost completely a white caucus" had expelled the "two youngest black lawmakers because we stood demanding action on gun violence". |
| Political analysts said Ms Johnson may have been spared expulsion because she did not use a megaphone, unlike her colleagues | Political analysts said Ms Johnson may have been spared expulsion because she did not use a megaphone, unlike her colleagues |
| Tennessee's House of Representatives consists of 75 Republicans and 23 Democrats. | Tennessee's House of Representatives consists of 75 Republicans and 23 Democrats. |
| Lawmakers argued for hours about the expulsions on Thursday, which are the first such actions taken without the support of both parties in Tennessee's modern history. | Lawmakers argued for hours about the expulsions on Thursday, which are the first such actions taken without the support of both parties in Tennessee's modern history. |
| Ms Johnson was just one vote short of the required two-thirds majority to expel her, with her supporters in the chamber cheering at the result that she would remain. | Ms Johnson was just one vote short of the required two-thirds majority to expel her, with her supporters in the chamber cheering at the result that she would remain. |
| The three lawmakers acknowledged they broke House rules by speaking without being formally recognised, but insisted their actions did not warrant expulsion. | The three lawmakers acknowledged they broke House rules by speaking without being formally recognised, but insisted their actions did not warrant expulsion. |
| Some Republican members said the Democrats' actions amounted to an insurrection, with House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, comparing the incident to the Capitol Riots. | Some Republican members said the Democrats' actions amounted to an insurrection, with House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, comparing the incident to the Capitol Riots. |
| Another Republican legislator, Gino Bulso, said they had "effectively conducted a mutiny." | Another Republican legislator, Gino Bulso, said they had "effectively conducted a mutiny." |
| Expulsion is not final | Expulsion is not final |
| Mr Jones and Mr Pearson - or The Justins, as they have been called by some commentators - could soon return to the House, since expulsion does not disqualify a former representative from running for office again. | Mr Jones and Mr Pearson - or The Justins, as they have been called by some commentators - could soon return to the House, since expulsion does not disqualify a former representative from running for office again. |
| A county council also has the power to appoint an interim representative in the case of a vacancy. So the expelled lawmakers could be appointed to fill their empty seats in the interim, then run for re-election and be back in the General Assembly within months, according to The Tennessean newspaper. | A county council also has the power to appoint an interim representative in the case of a vacancy. So the expelled lawmakers could be appointed to fill their empty seats in the interim, then run for re-election and be back in the General Assembly within months, according to The Tennessean newspaper. |
| Expulsion votes are exceptionally rare. In Tennessee, the House of Representatives has only twice voted to expel members. In 1980 it removed a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe and in 2016 a majority whip who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct was expelled. | Expulsion votes are exceptionally rare. In Tennessee, the House of Representatives has only twice voted to expel members. In 1980 it removed a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe and in 2016 a majority whip who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct was expelled. |
| But those expulsions had strong support from both parties. | But those expulsions had strong support from both parties. |
| Why Tennessee Republicans expelled two Democrats | Why Tennessee Republicans expelled two Democrats |
| Why Tennessee Republicans expelled two Democrats | Why Tennessee Republicans expelled two Democrats |
| Before Thursday's votes began, House members debated more than 20 bills, some relating to school safety. | Before Thursday's votes began, House members debated more than 20 bills, some relating to school safety. |
| Throughout the discussion, Mr Jones rose to speak several times, accusing his colleagues of passing "band-aid" legislation in response to mass shootings. | Throughout the discussion, Mr Jones rose to speak several times, accusing his colleagues of passing "band-aid" legislation in response to mass shootings. |
| "It is not action that will make our students safe," he said. "We, as elected officials, have a moral responsibility to listen to these young people who are on the frontlines who are terrified, who are here, crying and pleading for their lives." | "It is not action that will make our students safe," he said. "We, as elected officials, have a moral responsibility to listen to these young people who are on the frontlines who are terrified, who are here, crying and pleading for their lives." |
| In response, Republican Mark White - visibly aggravated - told Mr Jones: "Look at me. Look at the other 97 [lawmakers]. This is exactly what we're trying to do." | In response, Republican Mark White - visibly aggravated - told Mr Jones: "Look at me. Look at the other 97 [lawmakers]. This is exactly what we're trying to do." |
| Mr White continued: "I have been up here for 14 years, you have been in this assembly for two months, three months." | Mr White continued: "I have been up here for 14 years, you have been in this assembly for two months, three months." |
| Tennessee has some of the most relaxed gun control laws in the country. In 2021, the state passed a measure that allows residents over the age of 21 to carry handguns - concealed and unconcealed - without a permit. | Tennessee has some of the most relaxed gun control laws in the country. In 2021, the state passed a measure that allows residents over the age of 21 to carry handguns - concealed and unconcealed - without a permit. |
| Lawmakers and gun rights groups are working to lower that age to 18. | Lawmakers and gun rights groups are working to lower that age to 18. |
| There is no system of universal background checks and no "red flag" laws, which are designed to allow authorities to temporarily seize legally owned guns from those found to be a danger to themselves or others. | There is no system of universal background checks and no "red flag" laws, which are designed to allow authorities to temporarily seize legally owned guns from those found to be a danger to themselves or others. |
| Police said the Nashville shooter, who opened fire last week at the privately run Christian school, had legally purchased seven firearms on separate occasions. | Police said the Nashville shooter, who opened fire last week at the privately run Christian school, had legally purchased seven firearms on separate occasions. |
| Three of the weapons were used to kill three nine-year-old children and three members of the school staff. | Three of the weapons were used to kill three nine-year-old children and three members of the school staff. |
| Additional reporting by Tiffany Wertheimer | Additional reporting by Tiffany Wertheimer |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Republican Party | Republican Party |
| Democratic Party | Democratic Party |
| Tennessee | Tennessee |
| United States | United States |