SR0179LRB103 31820 LAW 60441 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Tennessee House of Representatives recently
3expelled two fellow lawmakers from the state legislature for
4their role in a protest calling for more gun control in the
5aftermath of the deadly school shooting at the Covenant School
6in Nashville, where six people were killed, including three
7children; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Of the three representatives who were involved in
9the protest, Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin
10Pearson, only the latter two were expelled; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Reps. Jones and Pearson are Black, while Rep.
12Johnson is white; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Tennessee House leadership has denied that race
14was a factor, alleging that Reps. Jones and Pearson were
15trying to incite a riot at the protest, while Rep. Johnson was
16more subdued; and
 
17    WHEREAS, President Joe Biden has called the expulsions
18shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Expulsion from the chamber is a move the
20Tennessee House has used only a handful times since the Civil

 

 

SR0179- 2 -LRB103 31820 LAW 60441 r

1War under distinctly different circumstances, including
2accusations of sexual misconduct and misuse of federal grant
3money; and
 
4    WHEREAS, While most state legislatures have the power to
5expel members, it is generally reserved as a punishment for
6lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon
7against political opponents; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn the actions
10taken by the Tennessee House of Representatives on their
11racist action of expelling and silencing two Black lawmakers
12duly elected by Tennesseans.