For the second time in as many weeks, Tennessee is making news for all the wrong reasons. This time it’s because of the historic move the Tennessee State Legislature took when they voted to decide whether Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson —or the Tennessee 3, as they quickly became known— should be expelled from the state’s House of Representatives.
Republicans were offended by actions the Tennessee 3 took during a protest following the Covenant School Shooting in Nashville. The Republicans claimed the three broke house rules by engaging in “disorderly behavior” and “knowingly and intentionally” bringing “dishonor to the House of Representatives.”
Riiiight.
Even if they did, should they be expelled for it? There were less severe ways to admonish them. But of course they opted for the most extreme.
They can’t shit and get off the pot to engage in any meaningful dialogue about common sense gun legislation because they want to pray for afflicted families first and move any of “those kinds” of discussions to the back burner to revisit at some unspecified future time. a.k.a. Never.
But, if there’s a chance to further increase their red stranglehold on the state’s politics? Damn. Those fuckers move at lightening speed.
What I mean by that is, they’ve already gerrymandered things as it is to choke Democrats out. In 2020, they redistricted the state, including Nashville, to ensure a supermajority. The once blue dot in a sea of red —one of only a few in the state— was rigged to go to the Republicans. And that’s how the travesty that is Tennesse’s version of George Santos, Andy Ogles, won his way to Washington. In 2021, they rushed through a permitless carry bill for 21 and up.
And don’t even get me started on the B.S. bill they passed this year that bans gender-affirming care for minors.
So there’s proof they can act when they want to. But only when it behooves them and their agenda.
What they don’t realize is what a bad look it is. (And it really is, because the two who were expelled were black men. The woman who survived by one vote is white. It just adds racist fuel to the fire, which of course they deny.)
And, sure, the constituents that voted for the Republicans may be happy. To Hell with anyone who isn’t, though. (In their minds, literally. Surely you must be a non-Christian heathen who’s headed there anyway.)
And if you dissent…well, you’ll meet the modern-day lynch mob that is the legislature. Or you’ll find your house shot up —with your family, including sleeping children, inside— like the founder of the progressive news outlet The Tennessee Holler did.
But I can see how Tennessee Republicans don’t understand what ass-backward buffoons they look like. They’re too insulated in their thick red cloak. They’ve surrounded themselves with themselves, so they’re all strutting around proud as peacocks patting themselves on their backs for their wins, completely ignorant of reality.
Bravo, Tennessee Republicans. You should be very proud indeed. But remember what that book you’re allegedly so fond of says about pride and falling…
And now, in one of their most egregious acts yet —and make no mistake, it is theater— they voted to expel two Democratic representatives (Justin Jones and Justin Pearson). Gloria Johnson narrowly escaped the same fate by one vote.
Which means they’re costing the taxpayers money because now they have to hold special elections to fill those seats. Oh, and let’s not forget they’re disenfranchising these same voters who elected these people to begin with. As well as parents of transgender kids that they’re not competent to make decisions about their own children’s health and well being. Or women, who aren’t allowed to make decisions about their own bodies either, thanks to the abortion ban in effect here now following Roe’s reversal.
And while we’re at it, let’s also take the opportunity to point out the hypocrisy. The majority of these Republicans support Trump, contend the 2020 presidential election was rigged, and deny that January 6 was an attempt at an insurrection. But they made haste to oust colleagues over differences of opinion regarding a tragedy that resulted in six innocent people being murdered.
Representative Justin Pearson called them out on some of their hypocrisy and ignorance before he left the chamber after they voted to expel him when he said:
“You are seeking to expel District 86’s representation from this house, in a country that was built on a protest. IN A COUNTRY THAT WAS BUILT ON A PROTEST. You who celebrate July 4, 1776, pop fireworks and eat hotdogs. You say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalized. You spoke up for children who won’t ever be able to speak again; you spoke up for parents who don’t want to live in fear; you spoke up for Larry Thorn, who was murdered by gun violence; you spoke up for people that we don’t want to care about. In a country built on people who speak out of turn, who spoke out of turn, who fought out of turn to build a nation.
He then added: “I come from a long line of people who have resisted.”
Viva la resistance!