NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Otis Sanford reporting:
Every Tennessean should forever remember April 6, 2023 because that was the day democracy died in our state.
Tennessee House Republicans, in the most vindictive and heavy-handed fashion imaginable, expelled two Black Democratic House members Thursday simply for breaking rules against speaking out of turn on the House floor. The two expelled members – Justin Pearson of Memphis and Justin Jones of Nashville – broke no laws during the protest last week demanding reform of the state's gun laws after the deadly Covenant School shooting.
A reprimand or censure was all that was needed, but this is a supermajority Republican legislature that has become drunk with power and is perfectly content to be viewed nationally as backwoods racists.
Interestingly, the House did not kick out Knoxville Democrat Gloria Johnson – who joined Jones and Pearson in the protest on the House floor last week, and Johnson said later she likely survived the effort to oust her because she is white.
I believe that's true.
By expelling Jones and Pearson, Republicans merely elevated them to national prominence. Don't be surprised if the county commission in Shelby County and the metro council in Davidson County appoint both men back to their respective House seats.
You can bet that in the next election, they will be shoo-ins to win all because Tennessee Republicans have shown they value white supremacy over democracy.
I'm Otis Sanford, and that's my point of view.