Jack, Tennessee Republicans have expelled two Democratic members of the state House for protesting for gun reform following the Nashville school shooting. While three Democratic legislators participated in the protest, the Tennessee legislature only expelled Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, the two members who are Black, while the motion to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson, a white woman, failed.

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Expelling lawmakers from state legislatures is rare. As Rep. Gloria Johnson noted, the Tennessee legislature has allowed literal child molesters on the floor without being expelled. But that hasn’t stopped GOP lawmakers from trying to spin the narrative, comparing the event to the Jan. 6 attack, despite the fact that the Tennessee protests did not result in any injuries or property damage and the protestors entered the state Capitol legally.

The ostracization and demonization of racial and ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups and the altering of the truth are core components of fascist and authoritarian regimes used to obtain and keep power.

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From Tennessee and Oklahoma to Florida and Ohio, Republicans are making states and localities laboratories for fascism and autocracy. What Tennessee just did is send a signal to the nation that under GOP control democracy is dead in the state. It’s dangerous to the people of Tennessee and a red herring to the rest of the country witnessing a Republican party willing to do anything to silence their enemies and force Democrats into submission.

Recently expelled member of the Tennessee House warned before the vote, “It will signal to the nation that if it can happen here in Tennessee, it’s coming to your state next.”

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Keep fighting,
Jayleen Alvarado, Daily Kos