Tennessee Legislature Expels Black Lawmakers for Protesting Weak Gun-Violence Bill

Tennessee legislature expels Black lawmakers

On Thursday, the Tennessee legislature expelled two Black lawmakers. But it spared a White one.

Why did Tennessee expel lawmakers?

They have earned the moniker the “Tennessee Three.” That’s for protesting a flawed bill to combat gun violence. It said nothing about guns. And, of course, they were protesting in the wake of the recent school shooting in Tennessee.

But their expulsion was all about race and democracy. You should make no mistake about that.

 

Embed from Getty ImagesBut, as civil rights pioneer John Lewis would say, they were causing good trouble. Lewis himself protested a similar bill in 2016. He sat in the well of the House of Representatives. That stopped all legislative proceedings. They emulated him by standing in the well of their state House.

Tennessee Republicans acted like racists

White Republicans control the House. And they were not pleased. I suspect a few of them even muttered the words “uppity N****ers.” Black lawmaker Justin Jones channeled MLK when he spoke in his defense. Black lawmaker Justin Pearson channeled Malcolm X when he spoke in his defense. And White lawmaker Gloria Johnson channeled Anne Braden. That must have increased resentment among Republicans beyond words.

The two Blacks are the first lawmakers ever expelled for violating the rules of decorum. Never mind that White lawmakers have gotten into fistfights and even peed on each other’s chairs.

But their expulsion is about more than gun control or civil rights. It’s about a second civil war. Republicans in Red states across America are hell-bent on triggering it with Jim Crow 2.0 intent. I cannot overstate this simmering fact.

But they are in for a rude awakening. Democrats in Blue states will not let them have their way.