1. Something absolutely outrageous in happening in Tennessee
Republicans are moving to EXPEL three Democratic members of the Tennessee House
What did they do?
The three members expressed solidarity w/peaceful protesters calling for gun safety legislation
🧵
2. According to @FoxNews@twitter.com the three members "joined anti-gun protestors in storming the Capitol last week."
The @DailyMail@twitter.com accused them of participating in an "ongoing insurrection"
These are all blatant lies.
3. Last Thursday, more than 1,000 protesters did come to Tennessee’s state Capitol.
The protesters were there to object to the legislature's inaction following the mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, which left six people dead.
But it was not an insurrection.
4. Here are the FACTS:
No arrests
No violence
No injuries
No property damage
It was a peaceful protest.
Mostly students.
5. How did the protesters get inside the Tennessee Capitol building?
The protesters "entered the Capitol building through the west entrance of the second floor."
They all were "required to go through security, managed by officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol."
6. Members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) cleared a path through the protesters so that legislators could enter the chamber and, in a few cases, access the restroom.
But no protesters "battled" with the THP or were charged with any crime.
7. As the protests continued, the leadership of the Tennessee House was considering unrelated legislation. At one point, three Democratic members — Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson — went to the well of the House chamber without being recognized.
8. Using a bullhorn, they led the protesters in a few chants supporting gun control. The actions of the Democratic members violated the body's rule of decorum but were not in violation of the law.
9. Nevertheless, Sexton described the incident as "at least the equivalent, maybe worse" than the violent attack on January 6 on the U.S. Capitol.
Sexton called the protest "an insurrection"
Republicans moved to expel all three members, with a final vote schedule for Thursday
10. “There are those who... say what we did was radical. What is radical are our colleagues who have made it easier to get a gun in this state than to get healthcare... who are so beholden to the NRA–won’t even listen to their own constituents,” Jones said in an interview
11. The anticipated expulsions of Jones, Pearson and Johnson would be unprecedented. The Tennessee House has only rarely expelled members. In the past, when members were expelled, it was on a bipartisan basis.
12. In 2020, TN Senator Joey Hensley (R) admitted he prescribed "opioids...to several family members & a second cousin who was both his employee and his romantic partner"
Hensley had his medical license suspended but wasn't expelled from the legislature
13. Thanks for making it to the end of this thread.
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@juddlegum And now I know this is a ghost account not worth following. Thanks for the update.
