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Tennessee Dem claims she was not expelled like her 2 black colleagues by legislature because she is white

April 7, 2023 | | Print Article

Knoxville, Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson, who was one of three Democrats set to be booted for holding a gun control protest on the State House floor, was the only one not to be expelled over her actions and told the press after the vote that it could have something to do with her being white.

(Video Credit: WBIR Channel 10)

The incident provided a perfect opportunity for Johnson, 60, to throw the race card, once again accusing Republicans of racism. Her expulsion fell one vote short after the motion to expel her Democrat colleague Rep. Justin Jones, who is black and Filipino, reached the necessary threshold to remove him from the House. Democrat Rep. Justin Pearson, who is also black, was also ejected in a third vote.

Jones was expelled by a 72-25 vote. Pearson was later expelled with a 69-26 vote.

Johnson’s vote failed by a vote of 65-30. Sixty-six votes were needed for expulsion, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

The expulsions took place after the Tennessee Three led “disorderly” gun reform chants following the deaths of three children and three adults at The Covenant School in Nashville. The shooting was carried out by a disturbed transgender individual who was heavily armed.

The three Democrats took to the House Speaker’s well on March 30 to speak without being recognized which violated the rules. They were already punished for the chants on gun control by being stripped of their committee assignments.

The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators called the action unconstitutional and “morally bankrupt,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

“They are doing this because we stood up for dying children because we are trying to protect the community,” Johnson said before the vote took place. “The very first action this body takes after a shooting that killed three children and three school personnel, the very first action they’re gonna take is to expel the very people who were speaking out against it.”

According to Fox News, When a reporter asked Johnson why she was not expelled, she replied, “It might have to do with the color of our skin.”

Johnson on Thursday objected to a measure that would have placed armed guards at schools, asserting, “We don’t want gun battles at our schoolhouse door.”

She has repeatedly introduced red flag bills, which would allow intervention when an individual owning a gun poses a threat to themself or others, according to 19th News.

The removal of Jones and Pearson was a shocking move by lawmakers that has only been done a handful of times since the Civil War. Most state legislatures possess the power to expel members, but it is normally reserved as a punishment for those accused of serious misconduct.

The most recent removal was in 2016 when Rep. Jeremy Durham was removed for alleged sexual misconduct. Prior to that, the most recent expulsion was in 1980 when the House removed Robert Fisher after he was convicted of soliciting a $1,000 bribe to kill a bill. The only other expulsions in state House history came during an 1866 special session. Six lawmakers were ousted after they tried to prevent Tennessee from ratifying the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution to provide citizenship to former slaves.

Before the vote took place, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the expected expulsions “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent,” which is not true. She then further sowed division among Americans, blasting Republicans as basically evil for not supporting gun control.

(Video Credit: ANC 24/7)

Thousands of protesters descended on the Tennessee Capitol on April 6 to witness the vote and support efforts to ban assault rifles, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) described the protest as “good trouble,” which was a nod to the late Rep. John Lewis’ guiding principle on civil disobedience.

The Tennesse Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday to defer action on any gun-related legislation until 2024, with its chair declaring he would not allow the body to become a circus for people with “other agendas.” A day earlier, Republican Gov. Bill Lee introduced a $205 million school safety program that would include armed security guards for schools. Lawmakers advanced a bill in the House Wednesday to allow teachers to carry guns, though it will still have to clear the Senate which it is expected to do so.

 

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