Tennessee House Republicans are moving to expel from the legislature Democrats who participated in gun control activists' "insurrection" at the Tennessee Capitol last week.
Republicans filed resolutions Monday seeking to remove Democratic state representatives Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson from the House, accusing them of "disorderly behavior" and that they "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives." They also lost their committee assignments Tuesday.
The three participated in a rally last Thursday for gun control that saw crowds storming the Capitol and disrupting official business with megaphones and signs. The Democrats joined in the disruption, chanting "power to the people" through a megaphone from the floor of the chamber. Cameron Sexton (R.), speaker of the House, called it an "insurrection," adding they were attempting to "incite people" and that lawmaker involvement was "unacceptable."
Three Republicans introduced the resolutions, which will likely face a House vote on Thursday.
Protests calling for gun control broke out after Audrey Hale, a transgender 28 year-old, shot and killed six at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. President Joe Biden called for banning "assault weapons" following the massacre.
The developments come after years of Democrats seizing on the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Democratic senator John Fetterman (Pa.) compared the events to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Jones, one of the three Democrats, said he will not "be intimidated."
"Just handed this on the House floor, but they still have to vote," Jones said. "THE PEOPLE are demanding we act to stop kids from being murdered in school."