Was it really about decorum?

In the wake of the shooting of three 9-year-old children at their school in Nashville, Tenn., House Speaker Cameron Sexton would not allow legislation to advance to the floor of the General Assembly which would have tightened gun laws in the state.

Refused even a hearing in the GOP House, three Democratic legislators, Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson chanted into a megaphone in the chamber, protesting the decision. They undoubtedly broke House rules, speaking without being recognized by the chair, yet that would normally result in a reprimand or a fine. In a 75-23 vote, Jones and Pearson, two of the chamber’s youngest Black members, were expelled from the legislature in response. The same motion against Johnson, a Caucasian, failed narrowly.

In order to be restored to their seats, both men will have to run in a special election in the autumn. In the meantime, they are silenced, as are their constituents in Nashville and Memphis, lacking any representation.

Perhaps Jones and Pearson may have proven overzealous, angry that the GOP denied their legislation even a hearing, yet when the author of the expulsion resolution, Republican Rep. Andrew Farmer of Sevierville, lambasted Pearson, he gave a clue as to how the Republican majority has weaponized politics in the Volunteer State. As Farmer exclaimed, staring down Pearson, “[I]n this Tennessee General Assembly, that’s why you’re standing there [facing expulsion], because of that temper tantrum that day. For that yearning to have attention, that’s what you wanted! Well, you’re getting it now. So I just advise you, if you want to conduct business in this house, file a bill. Be recognized, stand there, and present it, and pass it! All you gotta do is pass the bill.”

Farmer’s comments were loud and aggressive to say the least. In response, Rep. Pearson did not reply with the obvious, that the GOP majority sought to kill any gun legislation. Instead, he commented on how the tone and temper of Farmer’s comments revealed the ugly motivation behind the expulsion resolution. Speaking slowly and calmly, he said, “Now, you all heard that. How many of you would want to be spoken to that way? How many of you want to be spoken to that way? We’re not talking about politics. We’re not talking about even gun violence. How many of you would want to be spoken to that way? The reason that I believe that the sponsor of this legislation – this resolution – spoke that way is because he’s comfortable doing it. Because there’s a decorum that allows it. There is a decorum that allows you to belittle people. We didn’t belittle nobody.”

Was it inappropriate for three legislators to go onto the floor without recognition from the chair and begin screaming their views with a bull horn? Probably.

Was it immoral that a democratic body was not allowed a reasonable go on gun control to at least have a hearing before a legislative house, with debate and consideration, even if it was going to be voted down? Definitely.

Should we fear for the very essence of our democratic system when the people’s representatives are expelled for being a little overzealous in advocating their constituents’ will to their fellow legislators? Most assuredly.

Would two Caucasian legislators have been vocally belittled and expelled in such a fashion? Probably not.

This article originally published in the April 10, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.