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dontmean2bepoliticalbut · 1 year

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arwyd · 1 year

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Sunday always comes. Resurrection is a promise, and it is a prophecy. It’s a prophecy that came out of the cotton fields. It’s a prophecy that came out of the lynching tree. It’s a prophecy that still lives in each and every one of us to make the state of Tennessee the place it ought to be. So I’ve still got hope, because I know we are still here and we will never quit.

-Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) on the day of his expulsion (04/06/2023) from the Tennessee House of Representatives, for standing with his constituents as they protested gun violence following a school shooting that left 6 dead at The Covenant School in Nashville on March 27, 2023.

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 1 year

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A second Tennessee House Democrat has been reinstated after Republicans expelled him for protesting with gun control advocates.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 Wednesday to reinstate state Rep. Justin Pearson, who days before was expelled by the GOP supermajority for joining protesters ― many of them children ― who chanted in the House chamber in support of gun control following a school shooting that left three kids and three adults dead last month.

Following his reinstatement, a packed crowd inside the County Administration Building erupted in cheers and applause. In a speech following his reinstatement, Pearson said it was time to get back to work.

“You can’t expel our voice, and you sure can’t expel our fight,” he told the crowd.

“Let’s get back to work!” he shouted, to loud cheers.

Pearson and fellow Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones were expelled for protesting on March 30 in the House chamber, which Republican lawmakers called “disorderly behavior” that “brought dishonor to the House of Representatives.” A third lawmaker who joined in protesting for gun control, Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, was spared expulsion by a single vote.

Pearson and Jones are Black; Johnson is white. Both Jones and Johnson joined Pearson in his march Wednesday to the County Administration Building.

“I’m so glad Memphis did what was right,” Johnson told local station WREG after the vote. “I’m just absolutely thrilled.”

“Justice was done today,” she added.

Pearson represents part of Memphis, which is in Shelby County. Mickell Lowery, Chairman of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement Sunday that the expulsion of Pearson “was conducted in a hasty manner.”

“The protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently impacted by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted with their care at their school was understandable given the fact that the gun laws in the State of Tennessee are becoming nearly non-existent,” Lowery said.

“It is equally understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives felt a strong message had to be sent to those who transgressed the rules,” Lowery continued. “However, I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods. I also believe that the ramifications for our great State are still yet to be seen.”

Jones, who represents part of Nashville, was voted back into office on Monday by the Nashville Metropolitan Council in a vote of 36-0. Nashville Mayor John Cooper (D) said it was about giving voters their “voice back.”

“Voters in District 52 elected Justin Jones to be their voice at the statehouse, and that voice was taken away this past week,” Cooper said during the meeting to reinstate Jones. “So let’s give them their voice back. I call on this body to vote unanimously, right now, to do just that.”

Along with the two lawmakers being reinstated this week, another surprising victory emerged: On Tuesday, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order to tighten background checks and called on the state legislature to pass a “red flag” law that would make it easier to remove guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.

During his expulsion hearing, Pearson reminded lawmakers that the U.S. was founded on protest.

“You who celebrate July 4, 1776, pop fireworks and eat hot dogs ― you say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalized, because you spoke up for kids who won’t ever speak again ... in a country built on people who speak out of turn,” he said.

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ebookporn · 1 year

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House approves bill targeting publishers for sending schools sexually explicit books

A Tennessee bill that would open book publishers and distributors to criminal prosecution for sending obscene materials to public schools is headed to Gov. Bill Lee.

by Vivian Jones

The Tennessee House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 1059 in a 71-22 vote. It already passed the Senate last week, and now heads to Lee’s desk.

Sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, and Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, the bill would empower local district attorneys and the Tennessee Attorney General to criminally charge and prosecute book publishers who knowingly distribute materials that violate state obscenity law to public schools and school districts.

Book publishers and distributors could face felony charges and fines of up to $100,000 per violation, if the bill is signed into law.

“This is only for books being sent to the school,” Lynn told The Tennessean. “Certainly, if there are any sexually explicit books in teacher’s classrooms or in school libraries, they need to come out. You can’t give sexually explicit books to minors.”

The Tennessee Association of School Librarians opposed the bill. TASL’s Legislative Committee noted that the bill could impact book publishers and distributors’ willingness to work with school districts in Tennessee, adding that it “creates unnecessary bureaucracy, limits students’ access to books, and leaves us with lots of questions.”

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tomorrowusa · 1 year

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Republicans can keep expelling him all they like, but Justin Jones will always be back. ∞

Rep. Jones (D-TN-House-52) is back in the Tennessee House again after Tennessee Republicans under racist Speaker Cameron Sexton voted to expel him.

Nashville's Metro Council has unanimously voted to reinstate freshman Democrat Justin Jones to his seat in the Tennessee House. The GOP-led legislature expelled Jones last week for gun reform protests he led on the chamber floor after the Covenant School shooting.

The vote puts Jones into the seat on an interim basis until a special election can be held for the seat.

"Justin Jones has been elected to the vacancy of Tennessee House 52 pursuant to the state law and the rules governing the Metropolitan Council," Vice Mayor Jim Shulman announced at Monday's specially called meeting, as cheers erupted in the gallery.

It all happened with great speed.

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Rep. Jones still has to run in a special election. But because GOP gerrymandering placed Jones in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, there’s little doubt about the outcome.

On Wednesday, all eyes in Tennessee will be on Memphis where a local council is expected to appoint Justin Pearson to his old seat.

EDIT: There are now allegations that far right Speaker Cameron Sexton of the Tennessee House does not live in the district he’s representing. That puts him in violation of Article II, Section 5a of the Tennessee Constitution.

Where does the Tennessee House Speaker actually live?

#tennessee #nashville metro council #justin jones #reinstatement #tennessee house of representatives #tn house district 52 #tennessee legislature #the gop #tennessee republicans #cameron sexton #where does speaker sexton live?#republicans are arrogant and stupid

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yemme · 1 year

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Smokey Bear in Tennessee is working OT tonight.... Tennessee House expulsion of Democrats, dumb move. You just created a martyr with nothing but free time...

#Tennessee #tennessee house of representatives #Gun reform #nashville shooting

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jasoncanty01 · 1 year

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BACKFIRED: “A member of the Republican National Committee from Tennessee said expelling two Democratic lawmakers for their gun reform protests "didn't help" the party's brand and has now "energized young voters against us."

A member of the Republican National Committee from Tennessee said that the vote by the GOP-led Tennessee House of Representatives to expel two Democratic lawmakers for their gun reform protests "didn't help" the party's brand and has now "energized young voters against us."

Oscar Brock, commenting on the Republican-led decision to expel state Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis over their calls for action after the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, told The New York Times that the repercussions of the GOP effort went beyond the loss of political support.

"If my job, along with other members of the RNC, is to protect the brand of the Republican Party, this didn't help," he told the newspaper. "You've energized young voters against us. Worse than squandering support, you've made enemies where we didn't need them." ------------------------------------------------ While this is good news, Moderates and Left leaning people that just want to move forward often take any good news and rest. But can't rest. It is Unfortunetly a constant struggle with regressive forces that always lay low in this country (and human history in general). 16 Million more Youth voters will be able to vote by 2024. And much of the old power fears this.

#Tennessee House of Representatives #RNC #gun control #youth vote

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filosofablogger · 1 year

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A Young Man And An Old Geezer Meet Up

As you all know by now, I’m a big fan of former Secretary of Labour, Robert Reich. He’s intelligent, well-spoken, experienced, and also has a sense of humour. Recently, he interviewed Tennessee state Representative Justin Jones, who you may remember was one of two Black legislators temporarily expelled from the Tennessee House last month. This is Reich’s take on the interview, and there is a…

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#Justin Jones #Justin Pearson #restoring democracy #Robert Reich #Tennessee House of Representatives

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plexxaglass · 1 year

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My mom rarely curses but this is what she had to say about the TN hearing yesterday.

#tennessee #tennessee house of representatives

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stevenspringphotography · 1 year

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America Is Dead, Long Live America

April 7, 2023 As one of America’s two major political parties continues to spew countless lies and threats against their perceived enemies, even as far down the ladder as members of school boards and board of elections, their rallying cry is always the First Amendment guarantees the right to do so. And yet Thursday, the Tennessee House of Representatives held a vote to expel three members of the…

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#Commentary #Culture #Democracy #News #Tennessee House Of Representatives

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dontmean2bepoliticalbut · 1 year

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reportwire · 2 years

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In Tenn., a Lawmaker Tells Colleges to Scrub References to Gay and Transgender Rights Under Title IX

2022-09-07 15:58:49 A tug of war over gay and transgender rights has escalated across Tennessee in recent weeks as public universities statewide respond to a lawmaker’s letter telling them to scrub references to Title IX protections for these groups from their policies and websites. At issue was an August 22 email from Rep. John D. Ragan, a Republican from Oak Ridge who co-chairs the Joint…

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#Center for Higher Education Law and Policy #Chris Sanders #East Tennessee State University #Peter F. Lake #Political Influence & Activism #Rep. John D. Ragan #Stetson University #Tennessee House of Representatives #Title IX #University of Tennessee system

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 1 year

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Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones will reclaim his seat in the state House of Representatives with the backing of Nashville's Council, which voted to reappoint him four days after he was expelled for leading chants for gun reform with a bullhorn on the chamber floor.

Shortly after the council vote, Jones led a crowd of hundreds in a march to the Capitol, where he was sworn in, reported The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.

In one of its first legislative actions following a shooting at a Nashville elementary school that killed six people, the House Republican supermajority ejected Jones with a 72-25 vote for defying House decorum — making him the first House member to be removed from elected office for a decorum violation.

Nashville's progressive-leaning council, responsible for filling the vacancy, overwhelmingly voted Jones back into the District 52 House seat Monday as an interim representative until a special election can be held to permanently fill the position. Jones is eligible to run for reelection.

House members called for the expulsion of Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville — dubbed the "Tennessee Three" — after they approached the podium between bills during the session without being recognized, breaking chamber rules.

Pearson, who also used a bullhorn during the floor protest, was expelled in a 69-26 decision after hours of fierce debate. But the House failed by one vote to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to oust Johnson, who is white. Jones and Pearson are Black.

In Shelby County, at least one of 13 county commissioners has vowed to similarly reappoint Pearson to his House seat. The commission will meet Wednesday to consider the matter.

JONES RE-ENTERS HOUSE

Within minutes of taking the oath, Jones re-entered the House Chamber from which he had been expelled just four days before. Crowded galleries broke out in cheers as he walked to his desk on Johnson’s arm.

Protesters gathered at the legislative plaza on Monday to await the council's vote, chanting "No Justin. No peace."

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, NAACP BACK OUSTED LAWMAKERS

The expulsions drew a national outcry. President Joe Biden spoke by phone with the ousted lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The NAACP described the ousters as "horrific (but) not surprising."

"Extremist legislators, funded by corporate interests, have a history of undermining our democracy and failing to protect their constituents – especially in the South," the NAACP said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that Republicans may think they won in Tennessee, "but their fascism is only further radicalizing and awakening an earthquake of young people, both in the South and across the nation."

WHY WERE TENNESSEE DEMOCRATS BEING EXPELLED?

Jones, Pearson and, Johnson dubbed the "Tennessee Three," faced expulsion for protesting over gun reform after three students and three staff members of The Covenant School were killed in a shooting in the school on March 27. Three days later, Jones and Pearson approached the House podium without being recognized, a breach of chamber rules. They led protesters in the galleries in several chants calling for gun reform.

"Their actions are and will always be unacceptable, and they break several rules of decorum and procedure on the House floor," Sexton claimed days later in a social media post. "Their actions and beliefs that they could be arrested on the House floor were an effort, unfortunately, to make themselves the victims."

Johnson has suggested race was likely a factor on why Jones and Pearson were ousted.

“I don’t think there’s a question how those two young, Black men were spoken to was in a different manner than the way I was spoken to," she said.

But GOP leaders have said Johnson's actions were less egregious – she was a less-active participant and had not used a megaphone. They said the expulsions had nothing to do with race but were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers’ disruptions of House proceedings would be tolerated.

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tomorrowusa · 1 year

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The Shelby County Board of Commissioners in western Tennessee voted unanimously to send Justin Pearson back to the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The far right Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House voted to expel Justin Pearson and another black Democrat Justin Jones late last week. Rep. Jones was reinstated earlier this week.

County officials in Memphis voted unanimously on Wednesday to reappoint Justin Pearson to the Tennessee House of Representatives, less than a week after the legislature voted to expel him and another Black Democratic lawmaker for participating in a protest against gun violence.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners, which was tasked with appointing someone to fill the seat, convened to discuss reappointing Pearson and voted to send him back to Nashville. Pearson addressed the commissioners and dozens of supporters who assembled at the meeting.

"Nashville thought that they could silence democracy, but they didn't know the Shelby County Commission," Pearson said to cheers following the vote. "So the message for all the people in Nashville who decided to expel us: You can't expel hope. You can't expel love. You can't expel our voice. And you sure can't expel our fight. We look forward to continuing to fight, continuing to advocate, until justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Let's get back to work."

Before the vote, Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery told CBS Memphis affiliate WREG that many commissioners wanted Pearson to be reappointed. All seven of the assembled members voted to reinstate him.

The GOP supplicants of the NRA thought they could shut down talk of gun reform after the massacre at the Covenant School by silencing protests against Tennessee’s extreme permissiveness when it comes to carrying guns and owning military-style assault weapons. Instead, GOP arrogance created a major embarrassment for the state with the legislature acting like Putin’s State Duma in Moscow.

Pearson still has to run in a special election to make his return to office permanent. But because Republican gerrymandering packed his district overwhelmingly with Democrats, his re-election is largely a formality.

#tennessee #justin pearson #shelby county commission #memphis #reinstatement #tennessee legislature #tennessee house of representatives #cameron sexton #tn house district 86 #racism #gun laws #the covenant school

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thepoliticalfuckery · 1 year

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#tennessee #tennessee three #democrats #democratic party #nashville #justin pearson #justin jones #house of representatives #gloria johnson

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filosofablogger · 1 year

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Time For ... A Few Snarky Snippets!

Well, folks, it looks to me like another snarky snippets day, what d’you think? Those little snarky gems just keep popping onto my radar! He’s suing someone … again … {yawn} Who has the time or the money to engage in frivolous lawsuits that don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of winning? Apparently, the former guy, Donald Trump, has plenty of both, since he has been involved in more than…

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#Donald Trump #frivolous lawsuit #Justin Jones #Justin Pearson #Michael Cohen #Sarah Huckabee Sanders #social media age limit #Tennessee House of Representatives

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