Republican Tennessee lawmakers voted to expel two Black freshman Democrats for participating in a gun safety protest. A third member, who is white, kept her seat. The move is sparking national discussion about power, overreach and race in politics.
Last week, Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville, Justin Pearson of Memphis and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville joined protesters in Nashville at the statehouse to advocate for gun control reform and call out Republican leaders for not taking action after mass shootings. They said they were supporting and amplifying the voices of their constituents.
The large-scale protest came after the Covenant School shooting that killed six. During the protest, the members used a bullhorn and led chants.
