As Young People March for Their Lives, Tennessee Crushes Dissent and Overrides Democracy

[Celerity]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/05/opinion/tenn-gun-protest-democrats-ejection.html

https://archive.is/P6OJ0



NASHVILLE — Yesterday the eyes of the country were on the indictment of a former president, along with the all too real possibility that political or public chaos would erupt as a result. Here in Tennessee, we were watching a different kind of chaos unfold as our state government doubled down on its love affair with guns, even in the immediate aftermath of a horrific school shooting. I wish I could tell you that guns were the worst of it.

Last Thursday, in the wake of the shooting, peaceful protesters at the Tennessee State Capitol rallied for gun reform. Activists waved signs in the statehouse gallery, and Representatives Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin J. Pearson, all Democrats, led them in chants from the House floor during breaks. Between bills, the lawmakers also approached the podium to speak. They did not wait to be formally recognized.

On Monday, statehouse Republicans stripped all three of their committee memberships and deactivated their ID badges. The Democrats “did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives,” the formal resolutions against them read. Tomorrow, the House will vote on whether to expel the three lawmakers for talking out of turn.

Expulsion is extremely rare in Tennessee history. As the Politico reporter Natalie Allison pointed out on Twitter, the Tennessee House didn’t even vote to expel a Republican legislator who had been accused of sexually assaulting three teenage girls. The resolutions against Mr. Jones, Ms. Johnson and Mr. Pearson were filed against a backdrop that highlights the absurdity of the actions Republicans have taken against them.

Link to tweet

snip

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

[niyad]

2. "previously declined to vote to expel a gop sexual predator". There are words. . .

[intheflow]

3. "Groomer", "pedophile"...

All words to describe the Rs in TN. I also have some choice words to express my feelings for them, but I’m sure you can imagine those, too.

[niyad]

4. Indeed I can.

[Prairie_Seagull]

5. i'll see your 'choice words' and raise you increased blood pressure. nt

[aocommunalpunch]

7. I'll just leave "waste of oxygen" right here. n/t

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[KS Toronado]

8. Rs need to get their priorities straight

assaulting multiple teenage girls is OK if you're a R ? But don't look sideways at my AR15 I use to hunt mice?



Even this young boy knows right from wrong.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Celerity

[NoMoreRepugs]

10. There are 2 sets of rules in 'Merica - the impossibly strict ones for Democrats and the do whatever

the fuck u want one for the Deplorable RePutinicans.