Ousted Tennessee Lawmakers Criticize Republicans, Vow to Return to Office

Former Tennessee lawmakers who were ousted by the Republican-led House of Representatives last week announced on April 9 that they would take reappointments from their various regions and run for office in the special elections.

On NBC News'” Meet the Press ,” Democrats Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who had previously represented Nashville and Memphis, made a commitment to returning as politicians and delivered harsh criticism of the Tennessee state government.

Jones claimed that the House” is an institution filled with people who are more concerned with supporting the NRA and the Second Amendment than it is protecting the First Amendment rights of children and teenagers to be able to come to the Capitol to advocate for gun violence prevention laws ,” and Pearson described it as a” toxic work environment.”

After an attacker shot and killed three 9-year-olds and three adult at The Covenant School in the place on March 30, hundreds of protesters gathered at the state Capitol in Nashville to impose stronger gun control laws.

While chanting and shouting, protesters entered the House and Senate tanks. Jones and Pearson led slogans on the House ground while politicians declared a break.

Republicans in Tennessee introduced a resolution charging the lawmakers with engaging in” chaotic behavior” that” brought shame and disorder to the House of Representatives.” On April 6, their House associates kicked out Pearson and Jones. Gloria Johnson, a second lawmaker involved in the protest, was also considered for removal by Republicans, but they chose not to.

On April 7, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Nashville to meet with the three Democrats. During a video meeting request from Camp David, President Joe Biden praised the lawmakers.

In response to a blatant disregard for our country’s’s democratic values, Biden wrote on Twitter,” Earlier, I spoke to Reps Jones, Pearson, and Johnson to thank them for their leadership and courage.” ” To do that, we need more tones like theirs speaking out. Our nation needs to take action against gun crime.”

According to a White House statement, the three Democrats thanked Biden for his” leader in attempting to ban assault weapons and standing up for our political values” and for supporting them despite” extraordinary attacks” on their decisions.

The 27-year-old Jones stated on” Meet the Press ,”” I think the most resounding statement we’re’re hearing from the White House and across the globe, and people across this country is that this assault on democracy will not continue and challenge that the Tennessee House Republicans attempt to subdue democracy has instead revived a movement led by young people to maintain our democracy to make racial coalition.”

” I believe that on the day we walked in the Tennessee General Assembly, a target was placed on us because of our existence as small dark tones for our districts, people who will not submit, and those who won’t be conformed.”

We are the two youngest black lawmakers in Tennessee, and this is the first time in the state’s’s history that a predominantly white caucus has expelled all but one of its members.

And now, a system of social arrogance was what we observed. This was an attempt to silence our towns, not just an assault on us.

Republicans in the position retaliated against Pearson, 28, when he wore a viosterol