After a mass shooting in Nashville that left three children and three educators dead, Tennessee Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson joined thousands of Tennesseans in a protest in support of gun control laws.
For that, the far-right Tennessee House of Representatives expelled Jones and Pearson from the state House for violating rules on decorum after they led visitors in the gallery in a chant of “gun reform now.” (A censure is more appropriate than expulsion.)
In so doing, they robbed Jones’ and Pearson’s constituents of representation at a critical moment. Jones and Pearson are both young, Black progressives.
That’s a bold, outright, senseless, far-right, racist, authoritarian attack on democracy by demanding: For consent, you must collaborate; for comfort, you must condone; for serenity, you must be silent; for convenience, you must allow us to control you.
Choo Lak Yeow
Waianae
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