Two Tennessee Republicans expelled two Democratic legislators from the state Legislature on Thursday for participating in a protest calling to increase gun control following the Nashville school shooting. This was an extraordinary act in political retaliation. One vote was enough to spare a third Democrat.

Split votes led to accusations of racism. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, both Black members of Congress, were expelled, while Gloria Johnson, a white member of Congress, was allowed to vote on her expulsion. However, the Republican leadership denied that race played a role.

After the vote, the visitors’ gallery burst into screams of joy and boos. After being silent for several hours, and then hushing any person who cried during the proceedings they broke into chants “Shame!” “Fascists!”

The chamber has only used the banishment move a few times since the Civil War. While most state legislatures have the power of expulsion, it is usually reserved for serious misconduct allegations and not as a weapon against political opponents.

GOP leaders stated that Thursday’s actions were necessary in order to prevent lawmakers from disrupting House proceedings by protest.

Gino Bulso, Republican Rep., stated that the Democrats had “effectively led a mutiny.”

Jones and Pearson vowed to return next week to the Capitol advocating for change at an evening rally.

Jones stated that Jones passed resolutions to expel his colleagues, rather than passing laws to address red flags and ban assault weapons and universal background check. They think the issue is over. We’ll see them on Monday.”

Jones, Pearson, and Johnson joined the protests last week when hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Capitol to demand that gun-control measures be passed. The three men approached the House chamber front with a bullhorn, and began chanting as they walked through the crowd. This scene took place days after the shooting at Covenant School, a private Christian school in which six people were shot and killed, including three children.

Pearson explained to reporters that the protest was against “a House rule” because they were fighting for children who have died from gun violence, and those in their communities who want an end to the proliferation weaponry in their communities.

Johnson, a former teacher, stated that her concern over school shootings was personal. She recalled a 2008 day when students ran toward her from a cafeteria after a student had been killed.

She said, “The trauma on these faces, you will never forget.”

On Thursday, thousands of people came to the Capitol to show support for Jones, Pearson, and Johnson. They cheered and chanted outside the House chamber loud enough to drown out any proceedings.

As they walked on the ground, the trio held hands and Pearson raised his fist during Pledge of Allegiance.

Jones was given the opportunity to defend himself in front of the voters. He said that the GOP responded to the shooting by using a different type of attack.

He said, “We asked you all to ban assault weaponry and you responded with an attack on democracy.”

Jones promised that he would press for gun control action even if he was expelled.

He said, “I’ll be there with the people every other week, demanding that they act.”

Bulso accused Jones, accusing him of acting with “disrespect” in which he showed “no remorse.”

Bulso stated that Bulso did not recognize the wrongness of what he did. “Exercising him would invite him and his coworkers to mutiny on this floor.”

They may not last long, as the two expelled legislators could be back in office soon. The county commissions of their districts can choose replacements until a special election is scheduled. They could also opt to elect Jones or Pearson. They would also be eligible to run for those offices.

The Tennessee Constitution prohibits lawmakers from being expelled twice for the same offense.

During the discussion, Republican Rep. Sabiku advised Jones to be more collaborative and less focused on race.

Kumar stated, “You have much to offer but you must offer it in a way that people are open to your ideas.”

Jones stated that he didn’t intend to assimilate to be accepted. Jones said, “I’m here not to make friends.” He replied, “I’m here to make changes for my community.”

Johnson reminded lawmakers that she didn’t raise her voice or use the bullhorn when answering questions. Johnson was one of the youngest members of the chamber and is a new legislator.

Johnson suggested that race might have been a factor in Pearson and Jones’ ouster, but she did not mention it to reporters. She said it could be due to their skin color.

This sentiment was echoed in Memphis by state Senator London Lamar (a Democrat).

Lamar, a Black woman who spoke via Twitter, stated that lawmakers had “expelled two black men” and kept the white women. “The racism that is displayed today!” Wow!”

Cameron Sexton, the Republican House Speaker, who voted to expel them all, denied that there was a race involved and suggested Johnson’s arguments may have influenced other members.

“Our members literally didn’t look at ethnicity of members up for exppulsion,” William Lamberth, Majority Leader, added. He claimed Pearson and Jones were trying to spark riots last week while Johnson was more controlled.

Washington’s President Joe Biden was also critical of the expulsions. He called them “shocking,” undemocratic and without precedent.

Biden stated in a statement that “Rather than debating (gun control) the merits, these Republican legislators have chosen to punish and silence the duly elected representatives of the people, Tennessee.”

House members debated over 20 bills before the expulsion votes. One of these was a school safety bill that required public and private schools submit safety plans to state. Some Democrats criticized the bill for not addressing gun control, arguing that it only addressed a symptom of school shootings and not the root cause.

Expulsion votes in the past have been held under very different circumstances.

Legislators were under pressure to expel David Byrd, a former Republican Rep., over sexual misconduct allegations dating back to his time as a high school basketball coach more than three decades ago. Republicans refused to act, pointing out that Byrd was reelected at the time the allegations were made. Byrd resigned last year.

Democrat Katrina Robinson was expelled from the state Senate last year after she was convicted for using $3,400 of federal grant money to pay for her wedding instead of attending nursing school.

The last time state legislators ousted a House member was in 2016, when the chamber voted 70-2 for Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham to be removed over allegations that he had inappropriate sexual contact with at most 22 women during his four-year tenure.