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1. What led to the expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers? 2. Who is Justin Jones? 3. Who is Justin Pearson? 4. Who is Gloria Johnson?

1. What led to the expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers? 2. Who is Justin Jones? 3. Who is Justin Pearson? 4. Who is Gloria Johnson?

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1. What led to the expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers? 2. Who is Justin Jones? 3. Who is Justin Pearson? 4. Who is Gloria Johnson?
On March 30, hundreds of protesters gathered at Tennessee's state capitol in Nashville, calling for tighter gun control laws after three 9-year-olds and three adults were killed in a shooting at The Covenant School, a private grade school in the city. It was the first day that the state's legislature had taken up bills since the shooting. Protesters lined the hallways before entering the galleries of the House and Senate chambers, chanting and shouting. On the House floor, the three representatives brought proceedings to a halt. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson led chants through a bullhorn as legislators instituted a recess. Video filmed by a Republican on the house floor during the event - also a violation of the legislature's rules, Democrats contended on Thursday-showed the three speaking on the floor as protestors could be heard in the background. Republicans, who hold a large majority of seats in Congress, immediately pledged a rapid response. Johnson and Jones were stripped of committee assignments. (Pearson was newly elected and had yet to receive any committee assignments.) Motions to expel the three from the legislature were introduced by three different Tennessee Republicans on April 3, accusing the trio of "disorderly behavior." Justin Jones, 27, was the first of the "Tennessee Three" to be expelled from the House, by a vote of 72-25. He'd been one of the youngest members of the legislature and represented the state's 52nd district, which has about 70,000 residents and is part of Davidson County, the Nashville metro area. His photo and bio have been removed from the Tennessee General Assembly's website. Jones gave an impassioned speech on the House floor before the vote. "This is not about expelling us as individuals. This is your attempt to expel the voices of the people from the people's house. It will not be successful," Jones said before the vote to expel him. "Your overreaction, your flexing of false power has awakened a generation of people who will let you know that your time is up." Justin Pearson, 28, was the second member of the group to be expelled from the House and another of its youngest members. He represented the state's 86th district, which has about 64,000 residents and is part of Shelby County, where Memphis is located. Pearson's information and photo is no longer available on the Tennessee General Assembly's website. Pearson was expelled from the legislature in a 69-26 vote. In an emotional statement before his vote, Pearson referenced Rev. Martin Luther King's beliefs in putting "conscience above rule." "We have heard from thousands of people asking us to do something about gun violence," Pearson said. "What it is in the best interest of our people is ending gun violence." Gloria Johnson was the only member of the "Tennessee Three" to not be expelled from the legislature on Thursday, retaining her seat by a single vote. She has been stripped of her committee assignments and it's unclear if those will be restored. Johnson, 60, is a retired teacher who spoke of her experience surviving a school shooting before her vote. She represents the state's 90th district, part of Knox County, and is currently serving her fourth term in the legislature. Before the votes, she defended her colleagues Pearson and Jones, saying that she had survived the process because she is White and Jones and Pearson are Black. "I think it's pretty clear: I'm a 60-year-old White woman. And they are two young Black men." Johnson told CNN. The forced expulsion of lawmakers from any state legislative body in the United States is a rare event. In Tennessee, just eight lawmakers have been expelled from the house in the past. Six of those were Confederates who were expelled in the 19th century for refusing to affirm the citizenship of formerly enslaved Black people. In the 20th century, a legislator was expelled after being convicted of bribery, and in 2016, a member was expelled for sexual misconduct. Following their expulsion, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were reinstated back to their former positions.
Transcribed Image Text:On March 30, hundreds of protesters gathered at Tennessee's state capitol in Nashville, calling for tighter gun control laws after three 9-year-olds and three adults were killed in a shooting at The Covenant School, a private grade school in the city. It was the first day that the state's legislature had taken up bills since the shooting. Protesters lined the hallways before entering the galleries of the House and Senate chambers, chanting and shouting. On the House floor, the three representatives brought proceedings to a halt. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson led chants through a bullhorn as legislators instituted a recess. Video filmed by a Republican on the house floor during the event - also a violation of the legislature's rules, Democrats contended on Thursday-showed the three speaking on the floor as protestors could be heard in the background. Republicans, who hold a large majority of seats in Congress, immediately pledged a rapid response. Johnson and Jones were stripped of committee assignments. (Pearson was newly elected and had yet to receive any committee assignments.) Motions to expel the three from the legislature were introduced by three different Tennessee Republicans on April 3, accusing the trio of "disorderly behavior." Justin Jones, 27, was the first of the "Tennessee Three" to be expelled from the House, by a vote of 72-25. He'd been one of the youngest members of the legislature and represented the state's 52nd district, which has about 70,000 residents and is part of Davidson County, the Nashville metro area. His photo and bio have been removed from the Tennessee General Assembly's website. Jones gave an impassioned speech on the House floor before the vote. "This is not about expelling us as individuals. This is your attempt to expel the voices of the people from the people's house. It will not be successful," Jones said before the vote to expel him. "Your overreaction, your flexing of false power has awakened a generation of people who will let you know that your time is up." Justin Pearson, 28, was the second member of the group to be expelled from the House and another of its youngest members. He represented the state's 86th district, which has about 64,000 residents and is part of Shelby County, where Memphis is located. Pearson's information and photo is no longer available on the Tennessee General Assembly's website. Pearson was expelled from the legislature in a 69-26 vote. In an emotional statement before his vote, Pearson referenced Rev. Martin Luther King's beliefs in putting "conscience above rule." "We have heard from thousands of people asking us to do something about gun violence," Pearson said. "What it is in the best interest of our people is ending gun violence." Gloria Johnson was the only member of the "Tennessee Three" to not be expelled from the legislature on Thursday, retaining her seat by a single vote. She has been stripped of her committee assignments and it's unclear if those will be restored. Johnson, 60, is a retired teacher who spoke of her experience surviving a school shooting before her vote. She represents the state's 90th district, part of Knox County, and is currently serving her fourth term in the legislature. Before the votes, she defended her colleagues Pearson and Jones, saying that she had survived the process because she is White and Jones and Pearson are Black. "I think it's pretty clear: I'm a 60-year-old White woman. And they are two young Black men." Johnson told CNN. The forced expulsion of lawmakers from any state legislative body in the United States is a rare event. In Tennessee, just eight lawmakers have been expelled from the house in the past. Six of those were Confederates who were expelled in the 19th century for refusing to affirm the citizenship of formerly enslaved Black people. In the 20th century, a legislator was expelled after being convicted of bribery, and in 2016, a member was expelled for sexual misconduct. Following their expulsion, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were reinstated back to their former positions.
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