Tennessee Republicans Silence the Voice of the People: White Supremacy, Patriarchy and Fascism Strike Again

****News Views will use this particular discussion as today’s blog. Please take a few minutes to read the article, view the video clips, and follow along from the live feed if you want. This Is Fascism, folks and we need to stop it.

In an extraordinary move, Tennessee’s Republican-led House voted on Thursday to expel Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville, one of three Democratic lawmakers who recently led a raucous protest from the House floor calling for gun law reforms.

The vote was 72-25. The House has yet to decide the fates of Reps. Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson.

The three lawmakers acknowledge that they didn’t follow the rules of order and decorum by speaking without being formally recognized. But they’re facing a disciplinary measure that’s only been used twice since the 1800s. Republicans have said the trio’s actions amount to an insurrection.

“Fuck You, Fascists:”

“FUCK YOU, FASCISTS!”
Fuck them indeed.pic.twitter.com/eBZWdUuI9j
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) April 6, 2023

“No Expulsion:”

Wow: Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, one of the Dems that the GOP is trying to expel from state legislature to protesting gun violence, calls out his colleagues on the floor

‘For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber – no expulsion’ pic.twitter.com/KNDrhX3gl1
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023

“We Don’t Have Democracy in Tennessee:”

Jones: What we were saying was let us pass an assault weapons ban and they responded by assaulting democracy pic.twitter.com/uFnPdMU89R
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2023

“We Are Losing Democracy:”

Jones: What the nation is seeing is we don’t have democracy in Tennessee pic.twitter.com/tWAp5iInd4
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2023

Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson slams Republicans for effort to expel lawmakers over anti-gun violence protest: "It is no coincidence that the two youngest Black lawmakers in the state of Tennessee, and one of two women are on trial today. That is not accidental." pic.twitter.com/DLrC8L86mi
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 6, 2023

Rep. Justin Pearson: "No one should be wanting to operate as though this is not happening, as though we are not living in a gun violence epidemic in the state of Tennessee. And the solution that is being offered is actually to reduce the First Amendment rights of people." pic.twitter.com/EyjBXt1FQO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2023

Pearson: You look at what is it takes to expel a member, last two times in particular, one guy committed sexual assault against 22 people and the other committed bribery. And we broke a house rule because we're fighting for kids who are dying pic.twitter.com/obUtQTvFlr
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2023

“This is What a Slide to Autocracy Looks Like:”

"This is what the slide to an autocracy looks like" https://t.co/IMIaorIizX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2023

Wow. The three Tennessee lawmakers who are facing expulsion for simply standing with gun safety activists are met with overwhelming & uproarious cheers this morning. People see right through what Republicans are doing & they will regret this. pic.twitter.com/Rjrp3MkyoK
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) April 6, 2023

Pay attention, America. Republicans are engaged in a fascist takeover. Make them pay. https://t.co/hyfOYJQkF8
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 6, 2023

What the ONLY Republican that I Respect Just Said:

What just happened in Tennessee is reprehensible. Republicans expelled Rep. Justin Jones @brotherjones_ because he stood with his constituents against gun violence.
All that BS from GOP about "coming for Trump, coming for you", well here's the truth: the GOP is coming 4u first.
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) April 6, 2023