NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AFP) – Tennessee voted for the future of American democracy after Republicans kicked out of the state legislature two black lawmakers who took part in protests demanding passage of gun control measures. It has become the new front line of battle.
In separate ballots on Thursday, an overwhelming majority of Republicans ousted Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, leaving nearly 140,000 voters in the mostly black counties of Nashville and Memphis without representation in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Kevin Webb, his 53-year-old teacher from the Pearson area, said it was “typical America” that dismissed him “for the slightest offense.”
“He’s had prejudice against blacks for 500 years in this country,” Webb said. “Why do you think it will stop suddenly?”
Pearson and Jones were expelled in retaliation for their role in the protests that unfolded after a shooting at a Nashville school that killed six of his people, including three young students. A third Democrat escaped expulsion by one vote.
NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said civil rights groups are ready to take legal action “to ensure that this heinous attempt to silence the voices of the people is brought to justice.” said.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton has resisted criticism that he is leaving thousands of Tennesseans without representation and stealing their votes.
“Actions have consequences,” he said. “These members have had this Congressional voice for 45 minutes because they led protests on the floor of the House and disrupted our business.”
The trio’s participation in the demonstration lasted just a few minutes. It was Sexton who called for a break in meetings with lawmakers. Webb asked why Jones and Pearson were deported, but not white Congressman Gloria Johnson.
Clayton Cardwell, who lives in the Jones neighborhood of Nashville, said in a phone interview that last week’s protests against tougher gun laws were “just right.”
“We wanted the whole house to be involved,” he said. I recall being told that teaching was the safest profession when a retired teacher was completing his master’s degree in special education. “Now I consider it one of the most dangerous.”
Cardwell, who is white, also questioned the motives behind the deportation.
“There are just a lot of prejudiced older white men.”
Nashville attorney Chris Wood was so concerned that his representative could be deported that he went to the Capitol on Thursday to observe the proceedings. “It was terrifying,” he said. “It was an abuse of power.”
Wood, who has three of his children who attend public schools, said it was “incredibly immoral” for the Republican majority to refuse to even consider gun control.
“Nothing matters more to a community than ending gun violence and getting kids home at the end of the day,” he said. “It’s the only country in the world where that happens. “
Wood hopes Jones and Pearson will be back soon. They were re-elected to the House of Representatives by their district’s county committee and were able to run again in special elections. Andrea Wiley, a lifelong Tennessee resident who lives and works in Pearson County, said she was embarrassed by the state.
Tamara Johnson said she and her family voted for Pearson and agreed to change gun laws.
The vote to exclude “feels like there are no words,” she said. “They fired him for fighting to improve gun laws.
