Nikema Williams: “In the wake of our country's 129th mass shooting, Tennessee Legislators had the opportunity to set an example of what it…”

“In the wake of our country's 129th mass shooting, Tennessee Legislators had the opportunity to set an example of what it means to respond and act on the needs of your constituents. After an attack that killed six people--including three 9-year-old children, Tennessee Representatives had the chance to do something, anything, to keep Tennesseans safe from gun violence. On April 6, 2023 the Tennessee Legislature set an example, but it sure wasn't the right one. Instead of actually working to keep children safe from gun violence, Republicans in the Tennessee Legislature chose to expel two Black lawmakers who chose to stand alongside families, students and teachers for gun safety reforms. The expulsions of Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were both unwarranted and undemocratic. Representatives Jones and Pearson were simply supporting student protestors and demanded that the Republican majority in the Legislature do more to protect communities from gun violence following the Covenant School Shooting. Now Representatives Jones and Pearson weren't the only legislators who joined the protestors, but they were the only two expelled which makes it clear that racism is at the root of these anti-democratic expulsions. It was an attempt to both silence Black leaders and undermine Black voters who sent Representatives Jones and Pearson to the State Capitol in the first place. Let's be clear: this is not an isolated incident.…”