Tennessee state Democratic Representative Justin Jones was one of two Black Democrats expelled by the Republican majority from the state legislature earlier this year for decorum after attending a student led rally protesting gun violence.
After the Tennessee GOP tweeted about Juneteenth, Jones called out their hypocrisy.
The Tennessee House Republicans—@tnhousegop—Twitter account posted a message on Monday stating:
"May no one suffer from slavery ever again #Juneteenth."
You can see the tweet below.
\u201cMay no one suffer from slavery ever again #Juneteenth\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
Jones responded to the tweet by highlighting his expulsion, tweeting:
"Interesting, wasn't this y'all two months ago @tnhousegop??"
You can see his tweet below.
\u201cInteresting, wasn\u2019t this y\u2019all two months ago @tnhousegop??\u201d— Rep. Justin Jones (@Rep. Justin Jones) 1687201080
Jones shared a headline about his expulsion, drawing attention to the actions taken against him and fellow representative Justin Pearson.
The expulsion came after the two lawmakers joined protesters who chanted in the House chamber in support of gun control following a school shooting. It is worth noting a White Democrat, Representative Gloria Johnson, who participated in the same protest maintained her seat after a vote on her expulsion found fewer Republicans willing to expel her.
Many joined Jones in calling out the hypocrisy of the Tennessee GOP.
\u201c@tnhousegop Yall really could've just kept quiet today. Yall expelled two Black members 75 days ago.\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
\u201c@tnhousegop Is this a bit? It has to be a bit.\n\nI mean, your party is a white nationalist cult.\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
\u201c@tnhousegop Hilarious from some of the nastiest racists in the country.\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
\u201c@tnhousegop It wasn't even two months ago that you threw out two black members. Sit this one out.\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
\u201c@tnhousegop \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 Didn't @tnhousegop expel two Black lawmakers about a month ago while failing to expel a white lawmaker who did the exact same thing? Please sit down.\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
\u201c@tnhousegop Unless they are arrested for being black..\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
\u201c@tnhousegop Lol. Nothing like the smell of hypocrisy in the air\u201d— TN House Republicans (@TN House Republicans) 1687179780
The criticism faced by Tennessee House Republicans stems from the apparent contradiction between their Juneteenth message and their actions just months ago.
Jones was later reinstated to the Tennessee House and has referred to the expulsion as an “attack on democracy" just days after a mass shooting at Nashville's Covenant School.
The decision of the GOP supermajority in the Tennessee state House to expel Jones and Pearson has been criticized as anti-democratic and racist and President Joe Biden also blasted Tennessee Republicans for their "undemocratic" and "shocking" ouster of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest.
Jones and Pearson said they always felt unwelcome in the state House, with Pearson calling the work environment “toxic.” Jones reserved particular ire for "autocrat" House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who he said "runs the Capitol like it’s his private palace."
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