Formerly expelled Tennessee Dems lead yet another takeover of state Capitol: 'Power of the people'



Tennessee state Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, both Democrats, have led yet another takeover of the state Capitol in Knoxville less than two weeks after they were expelled from the state House for instigating a previous mob takeover. They were both subsequently reinstated.

On Monday, Pearson and Jones joined dozens of protesters, many of whom appeared to be clergy members, to demand more gun control legislation in the wake of the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. The House was set to vote on a measure that would allow some teachers to have access to firearms in the classroom, but the bill has been pulled from the calendar. With the state Senate Judiciary Committee already adjourned for the session, the legislature is unlikely to vote on the measure before the summer.

The members of the public who were present in the gallery overwhelmingly opposed arming teachers, and they booed loudly and demanded that representatives stay and "do [their] jobs" after the House announced that it would go into recess before voting on the measure.

\u201cMoments earlier, the gallery overlooking the Tennessee House floor erupted in boos and shouting as the legislature announced that they would go into recess right before the bill making it easier to arm teachers, which is what the protesters were there to oppose.\u201d
— Ford Fischer (@Ford Fischer) 1681788230

Though the measure appears to be tabled for the moment, Pearson, Jones, and their fellow protesters seem committed to ongoing activism. "We need people to keep showing," Jones told a crowd that had gathered in a stairwell.

Many in that crowd, including Jones and Pearson, had just cornered Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R) before he could exit the area. Sexton briefly answered some questions and stated that the House would soon consider other bills regarding guns, though he did not identify any specific bills. He then left.

Jones accused Sexton of running away from the people, and Pearson claimed that Sexton and other Republicans had engaged in "anti-democratic behavior" by continuing to consider legislation that would arm teachers. Rep. Jones characterized the mob rule that had just overwhelmed Speaker Sexton as the "power of the people."

\u201c"We need people to keep showing, because there's power in the fact that the speaker ran away," said Rep. Justin Jones @brotherjones_. "That's power of the people."\n\n"Our movement is non-violent. With that power of love and justice, it's something they cannot stand up to."\u201d
— Ford Fischer (@Ford Fischer) 1681788230

Earlier in the evening, Pearson, Jones, and the protesters also staged a sit-in like those of the civil rights era. Together, they even sang songs from the civil rights era, including "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around," while people took turns hoisting a small casket, likely representing the children who have died by gun violence.

As representatives began filing out of the gallery, the activists began chanting and shouting various slogans, including "More guns, more death, tell the truth," "You lied, we died," and "Whose House? Our House!" Law enforcement officers also stood guard in the hallway to prevent the crowd from engaging in violence.

\u201cVIDEO THREAD: Tonight both reinstated Tennessee State Reps @Justinjpearson and @brotherjones_ participated in a rally in the Tennessee State House in Nashville for gun control led by @RevDrBarber.\n\nHundreds of protesters shouted at Republican State Reps as they left the chamber\u2026\u201d
— Ford Fischer (@Ford Fischer) 1681788230

According to Rep. Jones, he and other anti-Second Amendment leaders intend to reconvene at the Capitol on Wednesday morning to exert more pressure on Republicans to cave on gun control legislation. "Our movement is non-violent," Jones claimed. "With that power of love and justice, it's something they cannot stand up to."

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Tennessee Democrats who exploited Nashville massacre to push for gun control voted against bipartisan bill to make schools safer



After a transsexual radical massacred six Christians at the Covenant School on March 27, Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee lawmakers took swift action to advance legislation that would boost funding and harden security at schools in the state.

HB 322 passed both the state House with a bipartisan 95-4 vote on April 6 and the Senate on April 13 with a unanimous 33-0 vote. Lee is set to sign it into law.

The three Democrats who used the shooting as a springboard for their gun control agenda and media tour did not, however, support the legislation.

Despite having expressed concern over school shootings and invoking the memory of the slain children, Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, and Justin Pearson of Memphis ultimately voted against the school safety bill.

The Tennessean reported that the bill would require schools to:

  • lock exterior doors while students are present;
  • conduct annual incident command bus safety drills, extra to the already required armed intruder drills; and
  • install classroom door locks and secure visitor entry vestibules.

In addition to hardening structural security, the bill would require school districts to ensure staff and experts have the wherewithal required in the event of an emergency. Accordingly, districts must have a threat assessment team and ensure that private security guards undergo annual active shooting training.

Districts will also have to annually provide up-to-date safety plans, floor plans, and security systems access to state and local law enforcement to optimize alignment and interoperability.

While not all of the requirements extend to public charter schools, private schools, and church-related schools, they too will have to ensure that exterior doors are locked, relevant drills are routinely conducted, security guards are trained up, and safety plans are in place.

"While it may not be the full solution to the danger and violence we see in the world, it is certainly a step forward," said House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R).

The three Democrats temporarily expelled from the House — for staging what Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) called an "insurrection" — opposed HB 322, as it did not satisfy their desire to infringe upon Americans' Second Amendment rights or stop access to "weapons of war."

"We don’t want gun battles at our schoolhouse door," Johnson said. "We want our kids to be safe, and to feel safe."

Pearson likened hardening security at schools to making them "more like prisons."

Jones, who has had multiple run-ins with the law, suggested that the addition of more police officers and security at schools was troubling, calling HB 322 a false solution and a "white flag of surrender."

\u201cThe TN House is hearing HB 0322 to add more police officer\u2019s to schools as a response to mass shootings and @brotherjones_ calls on the house to listen to the thousands of young people outside and take real action! #NoActionNoPeace\u201d
— A is for Afro (@A is for Afro) 1680794466

Jones added, "This is an optical spectacle decision to offer these false solutions. You want exposure when we are saying we want you to do something. This is a very political, calculated decision."

Republican Rep. Scott Campbell intimated that Jones and his two comrades were guilty of what they accused the bill's supporters of, saying, "If you want to talk about playing to the cameras, that’s what just occurred."

Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris praised the trio, suggesting that their expulsion was racially motivated and calling their "insurrection" courageous, reported the Guardian.

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