Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, called out lawmakers on Thursday as they considered his fate as a member of the House of Representatives.
Jones, along with Reps. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, led a protest on the House floor calling for gun law reform in response to the Nashville Covenant School shooting last week that left three children and three staff members dead.
Known as “The Tennessee Three,” the representatives stood before the majority Republican House to account for their actions. Pearson and Jones were ultimately voted out.
While speaking on the floor, Jones held no punches:
“Let’s talk about expulsion. For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber — no expulsion. One member sits in this chamber who was found guilty of domestic violence — no expulsion. We had a former speaker sit in this chamber who is now under federal investigation — no expulsion. We have a member still under federal investigation — no expulsion.”
Jones continued to prove his point of a potential bias.
“We had another member pee in another member’s chair in this chamber — no expulsion. In fact, they’re in leadership.”
He added, “Since you’re trying to put us on trial, what you’re really putting on trial is the state of Tennessee. What you’re really showing for the world is holding up a mirror to a state that is going back to some dark, dark roots, a state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing the two youngest Black representatives and one of the only Democratic women in this body. That’s what this is about. Let us be real today.”
Wow: Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, one of the Dems that the GOP is trying to expel from state legislature to protesting gun violence, calls out his colleagues on the floor
‘For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber – no expulsion’ pic.twitter.com/KNDrhX3gl1
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023
Jones did not back down from any question thrown his way.
Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) mentioned House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and his role in Jones’ speaking ability.
Jones stated he was there to speak for the people of District 52, and Sexton was “not God, though he may want to be.”
NOW: “I’m about to speak because the people of district 52 sent me here to speak. Speaker Sexton is not my constituent, Speaker Sexton is not a king, Speaker Sexton is not God” – Rep. Justin Jones
(You can watch this happening live below)https://t.co/DSbvKDj8Rd pic.twitter.com/VvrnQsK7jC
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023
Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) asked Jones to explain his protest chants, “No action, no peace.”
“I would invite my colleague from Putnam County to join any protest where that is a very familiar chant that usually goes ‘No justice, no peace,'” Jones responded.
A Republican state representative asked Rep. Justin Jones what he means by the chant “No Justice, No Peace.”
His response is worth hearing in full: pic.twitter.com/NfhITMiQGc
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023
Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) said, “We are upholding our constitution. We are protecting the integrity of this body. Let’s vote to expel him. That would send the case back to the voters of Davis County, and if after looking at his conduct, they find that he should come back, we will welcome him as a representative.”
Jones read between the lines and claimed Bulso insinuated he is an “uppity negro” and mentioned Bulso tried to incite violence against him in an elevator earlier this week and told him, “You are a damn disgrace!”
Whoa, just watch this entire exchange pic.twitter.com/mc6aYbLjmT
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023
The Tennessee House of Representatives voted 72-25 to expel Jones.
Rep. Justin Jones has been expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/bjSx0pakuF
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023
The Tennesseean reported expulsion required 66 votes. Johnson’s (65-30) lacked one, so the Tennessee House of Representatives allowed her to stay but expelled Pearson 69-26.
