An OUTRAGE In Tennessee

Posted on by under Election 2022, guns, Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Rants, Social commentary

The PEOPLE of Tennessee elected these three state representatives [Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson] to represent them.

But now, the state legislature has decided to override the will of the people and they have expelled two of the three.  They have decided that people who have an opinion, who are sick and damn tired of seeing innocent children shot and killed with military weapons in the hands of mentally ill civilians, are not entitled to their opinion, that they must not, in fact, have an opinion.  At least where the sacred guns are concerned.

The three legislators took part in a protest against gun violence that was in response to the latest school shooting in Nashville last week.  Apparently, they broke the rules of the Tennessee legislature by standing on the House floor and using a bullhorn to lead protesters in chanting demands for stricter gun laws.  They did not incite violence, there were no riots, it was simply people expressing their anguish and rage over the ongoing slaughter of people in this nation … a slaughter that could be reduced if only legislators at both the state and federal level found their cojones as these three people did to stand for doing the right thing.

In 2020, guns became the leading cause of death for children and in 2021 alone, 3,597 children were killed by guns.  And yet, it is a crime to want to legislate stricter gun laws, to try to save the lives of not only children, but everyone???  In my book, the Republican-majority Tennessee legislature, in taking such drastic action against its own members for their stance on guns, is telling the world that they have decided guns are more important than children.  No damn wonder they are so dead set against abortion – gotta keep making more babies so the gun nuts will have somebody to shoot!  Yes, that statement is crass and unfair, but this IS a rant and I AM angry!

There are three issues here:

  • The PEOPLE of the state of Tennessee elected these three legislators and now the people’s voice has been silenced in removing two of them.
  • Even legislators have the right to express their opinion on issues. In fact, that is part of what we elect them to do.  The people of Tennessee are tired of the lax gun laws, or lack of gun laws that are causing their children to die and these three representatives were representing the will of the people.
  • Only the two Black men who were part of the protest were expelled – the white woman was not.

When Ms. Johnson was asked why she thought she was spared after Jones and Pearson were ousted. she responded: “It might have to do with the color of our skin.”  Gee … ya think?

Do you blame the people of Tennessee for being angry over guns?  Just last week, six people, three of them children, were murdered by a person with an AR-15, and ON THE SAME DAY, a federal judge cleared the way for the Tennessee legislature to lower the age for ‘permitless carry’ in the state from 21 to 18. Republican governor Bill Lee signed the ‘permitless carry’ bill for 21 and up in 2021 at a Beretta gun manufacturing plant.

The expulsion of the two Black representatives yesterday is blatant racism, but also the opposite of democracy.  I hesitate to use the word ‘fascism,’ for that word is bandied about far too often these days, but when one group, in this case the Republicans, can override the will of the majority of the people, then it damn sure cannot be called ‘democracy’ either.

This will play out in the courts, possibly working its way all the way up to the Supreme Court, and I’m not making any bets as to the ultimate outcome.  The people of Tennessee should be enraged at this point, for they have been told to sit down and shut up, they have been told that their children have no value and that their voices will be silenced.  Is this, then, the future of this nation?

33 thoughts on “An OUTRAGE In Tennessee”

  1. I truly believe this Tennessee episode is a watershed moment. The state legislators did not expect the national attention they’re getting, and an enraged electorate with lots of young people isn’t going to stand for this injustice. VP Harris flew to Nashville, met with the three brave dissenters, and spoke at Fisk University. Interesting note: Justin Pearson, one of the “Tennessee Three,” interned for California Rep. Barbara Lee. I heard her say she offered him a job on her staff, but he said he wanted to return to Nashville. “It was the right decision,” Lee said.

    These flailing Republican legislators are the last vestiges of a dying era, and they know it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I am beginning to think you are right, my friend, and the proof is in the way the Republicans are scrambling, making ridiculous threats over things that haven’t even happened yet … panic mode?

      I did see where VP Harris flew to Nashville and met with the three, but hadn’t heard about Representative Lee and what she said. After Trump was defeated in 2020, I thought the Republican Party would take a hard look at themselves, their ideology, their policies, and alter their stances to become a more viable party. Instead, they decided the better way to win elections was to disenfranchise as many of the poor, the minorities, the young, and the elderly as possible, leaving largely a white, middle-class voting base. If you have to play those games to win, then you aren’t really winning.

      Liked by 1 person

    • The south, and even some of the states above the Mason-Dixon line are definitely trending backward in terms of racism, misogyny (women’s rights are on the chopping block), voting rights, and more. It’s depressing, infuriating, and frightening all at once.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Where, despite the people, voted, and those who are in control, overrides the voice of the people, because who the people elected does not fit to their, liking, so, why vote, when you know, that your voices will get, ignored? Because we still, need to show that, we have a voice, and we, deserve to be, heard, is that it? Well, these results showed, that, the people will get, silenced, because their choices in elected officials, don’t fly with someone who has, absolute power in the, government. And, there’s NOTHING we can do ’bout it!

    Liked by 1 person

    • The very worst thing that could happen is if the people feel their voice/vote doesn’t count and stop voting. From there, it would be a short hop to a full-blown autocracy. But there ARE things we can do about it, my friend. We cannot just sit and wring our hands, giving up like fish in a kettle! We must keep fighting for voting rights, keep making our voices heard, loud and clear, and KEEP VOTING for common sense and decency! We must educate people about what happens when you vote for fascist/autocratic people whose only goal is to increase their own power and wealth. We cannot give up, my friend … EVER!

      Like

  5. you know damn well that those two morons were heckling and disrupting the procedures and don’t pretend that you do not. I don’t even know why I read this blog anymore, it makes me angry, you obviously don’t want any of my contributions in terms of links etc so i’m just going to go away. i know when i’m no longer wanted. goodbye.

    Liked by 1 person

      • Jill, Natalie Allison of Politico writes today that she covered the Tennessee legislature for several years and what happened is not a surprise and is actually par for the course in its pettiness. She even noted one legislator would actively ring a cow bell for positive votes which does not lend itself to decorum.

        Here are two excerpts that paint a picture worth seeing as context:

        “When I covered the Tennessee Capitol from 2018 to 2021, the family-values espousing Republican House speaker had to explain why his text message trail included discussions of pole-dancing women and his chief of staff’s sexual encounters in the bathroom of a hot chicken restaurant.

        After a Republican lawmaker was accused of sexually assaulting 15- and 16-year-old girls he had taught and coached, he was made chairman of the House education committee.”

        I go back to my comment, why expulsion and not censuring? Why the black men and not the white woman? Why not other breeches of decorum or even acceptable behavior? Why is it they were protesting something that makes Republicans squirm? We cannot tolerate unacceptable behavior, but following due process would be a start when it is deemed to have occurred in all cases.

        Keith

        Liked by 1 person

        • PS – The article in Politico is called:
          “No One Should Be That Shocked by What’s Happening in Tennessee” by Natalie Allison

          Liked by 1 person

        • Oh wow … such virtuous people in the Tennessee legislature!!! NOT! I’ll check out that article … thanks! Your questions are all valid … far too many need to be asked, but instead the Republicans are trying to head off any potential dissent at the pass. Would it have been different if the protest hadn’t been about guns? Would the men have been expelled, or merely censored if they had been white? I’m stunned and appalled by the whole thing, and I think I am not alone! Seems the only people who aren’t upset are Tennesseans!

          Like

  9. Republicans will use any pretext to itimidate, or totally shut up, opposing voices. Beau is correct, “Obey, or else!”
    The question is, “Or else what?” Are they going to put all opposing voices in jail? Are they going to execute regular people who choose to ve better tgan them? No, they aren’t going to do a damn thing, because they are not capable of thinking things through.
    “Fear me! Fear the consequences!” No, fear nothing, because they cannot believe fear on its own won’t work. They have nothing but words…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, I think Beau made a lot of sense in this one, and … frankly, it’s scary. If we open our eyes, we can see the autocracy creeping ever closer. You say they have nothing but words, but I would argue that they also have a large number of very ignorant people willing to do their bidding. Will the 2024 election be the last in this country?

      Like

      • I cannot stop people from believing the BS the GOP is disseminating, but I will bet if enough people call their bluff, and stand up to them, their party will implode and disintegrate. They are full of threats, but they are holding no cards. Bluster is their stock in trade, and it can only blow so long before it blows itself out!

        Liked by 1 person

        • As long as those who have some sense in this country, who put the common good ahead of their own needs still exist, there is hope. Some days it almost seems as if there is something in the water making people stupid!

          Like

  11. Jill, we are of a like mind today. I called the Tennessee speaker and suggested they not go down this path before the vote. My comment to others who think these three legislators did this in the wrong place is why expulsion? Why not censorship? Plus, the subject matter they were voicing is one more Americans support in action. Most Americans are tired of being sick and tired about this subject.

    The final concern on the race of two of the three expelled versus the one identified but not expelled is telling.

    We also are missing context and history. I know in my state of North Carolina with its super majority then majority of Republican representation, I have witnessed more than several steamrolling, even unethical, behaviors riding herd of the minority. Two of these unethical examples were led by the now senior US Senator when he was Speaker of the NC House. It is hard pushing a ball uphill in a minority party, when your voice is not heard or even considered at all.

    Again, if what they did was considered egregious, why expulsion? Why just the two Black representatives? Why on protesting gun deaths? Lots of questions. If what they did was so egregious, why not support the impeachment of Donald J. Trump who fomented a rebellion on the US Congress?

    Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    • As we so often are! Keith … this whole thing has me thinking that this nation has lost its way, that we have forgotten what’s really important, and that a government of/for/by the people is just a memory, for today our government seems to be of/for/by the most powerful and wealthy only. I have to agree with Beau on this one … the message they are sending is loud and clear: “We don’t care about the people … just keep voting for us and paying your taxes and then sit down and shut up.” This … we just cannot continue along the path the Republican Party is taking us down.

      You are right … there are so many questions to which … well, we likely KNOW the answer, but we will be told lies, lies, and more lies. I’m disgusted and depressed. I think very highly of President Biden and the job he is doing, but the country continues to slide backward despite his best efforts. Where does it end? Does it end after the next election when so many of us are disenfranchised that the autocrats get their way?

      Like

    • It is unreal, and it has gotten even worse. Today, the state Republicans said they would “de-fund” the cities of Memphis and/or Nashville, the two biggest cities in the state, if either one returned one of these representatives to office. That means taking money away from schools, libraries, roads, and many other things that the cities rely on. This is just going way too far!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Pingback: An OUTRAGE In Tennessee | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

Comments are closed.