from the Cronkite school of
journalism at Arizona state
university.
Amna: It was a chaotic scene at
the Tennessee capitol yesterday
as two black members of the
state house of representatives
were kicked out of office by the
Republican supermajority.
In response, late today, vice
president Harris traveled to
Nashville to meet with
democratic lawmakers, including
the ones who were expelled.
Laura barron-lopez has our
report.
>> Did not let this die.
>> Tennessee Democrats outraged.
>> I am asking folks who are mad
to stay mad.
>> And committed to continuing
the fight for gun reforms.
>> There are thousands of us
demanding change.
No action, no peace.
>> After the youngest black
representatives in the house
were expelled yesterday from the
state assembly.
>> Expelled.
>> We can never normalize that
tear any of the way that these
people in power have operated
due to white supremacy.
>> House resolution 64 fails.
>> Another lawmaker was spared
expulsion by one vote.
>> That guy is a rock star.
>> Representative Johnson left
with no doubt about why she kept
her job while her colleagues did
not.
>> It might have to do with the
color of our skin.
>> Dubbed the Tennessee three by
supporters, the Democrats drew
the ire of the Republican
supermajority last week after
they led protests in support of
gun restrictions on the house
floor, breaking the rules of the
chamber just days after a
shooting at a Nashville school
left six dead, including three
children.
>> We called upon you to ban
assault weapons, and you respond
with an assault on democracy.
>> The debate to expel the trio
lasted hours and was oftentimes
contentious.
>> Just because you don't get
your way, you can't come to the
well, bring your friends and
throw a temper tantrum with the
adolescent bullhorn.
>> Is elevating our voices for
justice or change a temper
tantrum?
There is something in the
decorum of this body that says
it is ok to call that a temper
tantrum, to call people we
disagree with on the issues to
say all they want is attention.
I will tell you what, I
personally do not want
attention.
What I want is attention on the
issue of gun violence.
>> Republicans resolute and
largely united in their votes
and condemnation for the lack of
decorum.
>> He and two other
representatives effectively
conducted a mutiny on March the
30th of 2023 in this very
chamber.
>> There are consequences for
action.
>> The speaker of the state
house last week even comparing
the peaceful protests by
students and Democrats to the
violent January 6 insurrection
at the U.S. Capitol.
A charge Democrats rejected.
>> I know the rules sometimes
have to be broken and sometimes
you have to get in good trouble.
>> Jones and Pearson are gone
from office, but their message
is now resonating far beyond the
state's borders.
President Biden calling their
ouster shocking, undemocratic
and without president.
Precedent.
-- Late today, vice president
Kamala Harris traveling to
Nashville to meet with the
current and former democratic
lawmakers.
>> If it can happen here in
Tennessee, it's coming to your
state next.
>> Their absence may be
short-lived.
The Nashville council will meet
on Monday and could choose to
send Jones back to the state
capitol, until a special
election can be held later this
year.
Amna: For more on what this
means for the state of
Tennessee, gun violence, and
equal representation, I am
joined by Tennessee state
representative John ray Clemens.
He is the house democratic
caucus chair.
>> Thank you for having me.
>> Yesterday, two members were
expelled.
Gloria Johnson was not.
Representative Johnson said she
thought it had to do with the
color of their skin.
Do you agree with that
assessment?
>> I understand how some might
think that.
But I do not know what is in my
colleagues' hearts.
I think it is fair to say that
my caucuost two strong
voices yesterday, and I am
looking forward to them being
reinstated soon.
>> Republicans say they broke
the rules of decorum by
protesting on the floor, do you
think that they should have
faced a different consequent is?
>> People break house rules on a
daily basis.
They approached without
permission from the speaker.
I think that is a very moderate
offense.
But others who have served in
the house in recent years, who
have not been punished for
anything, have done worse,
including several who are under
federal investigation and have
had criminal charges brought
against them.
This year we had a member on the
criminal justice committee
advocate for lynching, which is
a hate crime, and he sits on
that committee still with no
punishment.
Last week, another was charged
with simple assault and he is
still sitting on the house of
floor with no punishment
whatsoever.
Only three times since the civil
war have members been expelled
from the state legislature.
And they were for very egregious
crimes or conduct.
So, this is highly
inappropriate.
It is extraordinary action that
should have never taken place.
It is a sad day for our
democracy in the state of
Tennessee.
>> What comes next for house
Democrats?
Are their steps your caucus can
take?
>> Justin Pearce and Justin
Jones and Gloria Johnson have
our support and we will continue
to fight for them.
We do not a 75 member GOP super
majority should silence the
voices of waiver 200,000 --
voices of over 200,000 people in
Tennessee who elected for them.
Unfortunately, my colleagues may
have won two votes yesterday,
but I think that they lost in
the world of public opinion.
Amna: As you said, both
representative Jones and Pearson
could be reappointed or run in a
special election.
How can you make sure the
Republican supermajority will
see to them?
>> If their local governments
reappoint them to serve in the
legislative body, they better be
seated in the state legislature
or we will have a legal battle
on our hands.
I do not see any grounds for the
majority to not see to them.
If they refuse to seat them, I
would think you would see this
taken to a whole other level.
Amna: Representative, this all
started after the shooting at
covenant school that left six
dead, including three children,
then the protests subsequently
on the floor about trying to
pass more gun restrictions in
the state.
Where does that stand in terms
of legislation passing through
the state house would restrict
guns?
>> Our community has been
devastated by the loss of those
lives here in Nashville, but
that's only the latest incident
of gun violence.
Gun violence, it occurs every
day in every community across
the state of Tennessee too
often.
And so it is way overdue for
solutions.
So, we are fighting for gun
safety measures and a lot of gun
since legislation.
We're talking with our
colleagues across the aisle.
We requested a meeting with the
governor of Tennessee who
refuses to even mention the word
gun since the tragedy at the
school.
>> You are talking across the
aisle, but have you heard from
Republicans or independents over
the last few days and if they
are moved at all by what
happened?
>> Well, I don't think anyone is
not moved by what has
transpired.
I mean, this tragedy has touched
everyone.
But they say just words.
We need to see action.
I appreciate them saying that
they are willing to work with us
, but we spent the last couple
weeks or so being distracted by
an expulsion that is completely
baseless and undemocratic
instead of focusing on passing
gun legislation.
It's truly demoralizing and an
offense, quite honestly, to the
victims of gun violence.
>> What message does it send to
other states, to the nation that
Tennessee state house decided to
expel two young black
representatives who were
speaking on behalf of their
constituents and on behalf of
students who were protesting for
more gun restrictions?
>> This sends an incredibly
alarming signal across the
country, that if you speak up
for what you believe as a young
black man or a lawmaker, you
could be expelled from your
elected position.
That is truly alarming.
It is really beyond the pale.
It should cause everyone,
regardless of where you live or
where you are, to rise up and
take action and say, you're not
going to allow this, you're not
going to allow Republicans to
expel members just because they
disagree with them or don't like
them, perhaps, or don't like
what they have to say.
>> You are meeting with the vice
president today.
What's your message to her?
>> It is time that we take
action, at the federal level and
local level in the state of
Tennessee.
And I will encourage her to
encourage her friends in the
U.S. Senate and the house to do
what they can.
And we'll try to live up to our
end of the bargain as well, and
continue to fight here in the
state of Tennessee.
>> Representative John J.
Clemons, thank you so much for
your time.
>> Thank you very much.
♪♪