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State Chapters => State Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on April 08, 2023, 01:36:01 pm
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Expulsion of two lawmakers could backfire on Tennessee GOP majority
by Barnini Chakraborty, Senior Investigations Reporter |
April 08, 2023 07:00 AM
The decision by Tennessee Republicans to expel two Democratic lawmakers over their protests following a mass school shooting may have backfired, turning the ousted state leaders into political martyrs and giving them a bigger national platform to air their grievances.
State Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were kicked out of the state legislature on Thursday in a move that drew widespread condemnation, outrage, and accusations of racism across the country.
GOP leaders said the move was necessary after the two black lawmakers staged a protest for gun control on the House floor and led chants with a bullhorn.
A third Democratic lawmaker, state Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, also participated in the demonstration but survived an expulsion vote.
What followed after the trio of votes was wall-to-wall coverage on television, headlines in national newspapers, and even condemnation from the White House.
"Today's expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protests is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent," President Joe Biden said. "Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee."
Biden on Friday invited the ousted legislators to the White House.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/expulsion-of-two-lawmakers-could-backfire
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BS. They should have been expelled. I'm sure they can find some civil Democrats to replace them.