Tennessee's Democratic Representatives Expelled, Silencing the Urgent Call for Change

The bald-faced message of the GOP in the Tennessee House of Representatives is clear: American safety takes a back seat to the Second Amendment. Alas! Never in the history of our tattered politics has a group of legislators acted so swiftly and singlemindedly. One could only surmise that the almighty NRA rebuked and threatened the Volunteer State's GOP - how dare they allow a pair of Blacks to lecture them on gun control.

In a move that dashed smiles across the faces of every Grand Master - dead or alive - Tennessee House Republicans expelled Democratic representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. The charge? Mr. Jones and Mr. Pearson gave themselves an unguarded tour of the Chamber's rostrum and disrupted decorum. How so? By chanting" no action, no peace" repeatedly. They were protesting the ineptitude and inaction of the GOP in the wake of another mass shooting - this one occurring at The Covenant School in Green Hills, a neighborhood of Nashville….

… At what point do we stop offering prayers to a deaf God, especially when individuals with mental health issues slaughter innocent children? That is all the GOP pretends we do. We should continue to pray. Everything will magically change. But it will not. Kids will continue to be offered at the altar of whatever god these ham-fisted and maladroit politicians worship. Undoubtedly, in this case, the NRA.

I digress. The expulsion of these lawmakers adds another dark chapter to our nation's checked story. The GOP has shown its resolve again to assault democracy and the people. Their grit is to go against our will and not necessarily, ruffle our feathers, but kill the whole chicken.

Without question, today, we were served a chilling reminder that our so-called politicians are beholden not to us but to corporations. And today, we were reminded of a grim testament to the power wielded by influential groups like the NRA. Moreover, today we were reminded of a flagrant and unambiguous assault on American safety. Finally, at last, today we were reminded that politicians are no longer a buffer between our inalienable rights - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - and the minoritarianism of corporations, special interest groups, lobbyist, etc.

Two men, nay, two Black men today, were sacrificed by a group of white legislators who have taken the Second Amendment and idolatrized it. And their god requires the blood of children and innocent Americans, something the Tennessee legislature will supply, or so it seems. Albeit not only them… the entire GOP continues to kowtow to the demands of the NRA and other pro-gun groups. This idolatry will only continue to fester, infecting our political system with its toxic, uncompromising dogma.

To put things into perspective, according to the Gun Violence Archive, the last mass shooting in the nation happened on April 5th in Virginia Beach. Four people were injured, without any reported casualties. Before that, there was one on April 4th, three on April 3rd, and three on April 2nd. I hope you are getting the picture. Mass shootings and mass killings are as American as hotdogs and soda. And today, representatives were ousted for taking a stand and demanding immediate remedy.

The expulsion of these two representatives is a tocsin for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Clearly, our political system has been hijacked by special interest groups, corporations, and lobbyists, whose interest is aligned with maintaining power and influence. Ensuring the safety of Americans is an afterthought; it is an "oh by the way;" a postscript halfheartedly scribbled at the end of their fancy bills.

Fellow American, wake up. This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of our rights. As citizens, we must hold our politicians accountable for their actions. Today, they were egregious and dismissive.

I concede that gun rights are a difficult conversation to have. There is nothing easy about tackling that divisive issue. However, our beloved President John F. Kennedy once noted that Americans do certain things "not because they're easy, but because they are hard." Consequently, we have the resilience to challenge the deeply ingrained beliefs and assumptions perpetuating our nation's gun violence cycle.

The events in Tennessee serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change. But they also represent an opportunity for us, as a nation, to unite in the fight for a more just, safe, and equitable society. The ousting of these two representatives should be a rallying cry for all Americans, a call to action that cannot be ignored.

We must not allow the sacrifices of these brave men to be in vain. Instead, we must use their example as a catalyst for change, harnessing the power of our collective voices to demand an end to the senseless violence that plagues our nation. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to stand up, speak out, and work tirelessly to create a safer, more inclusive America for all.

Share your thoughts in the comments, and if you found this article worth reading, show some love and buy me a coffee. It will be greatly appreciated and might even prevent me from falling asleep on my keyboard.