Ousted Tennessee lawmakers say move is ‘attempt to crucify democracy’

Black legislators were expelled for protesting the Republican-controlled house’s inaction after Nashville mass shooting

Two Tennessee state lawmakers who were expelled from the legislature after partaking in a gun control protest outside the chamber to which they were elected have called the move an unprecedented act of political retaliation as well as an “attempt to crucify democracy”.

During an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Easter Sunday, Justin Jones said his and Justin Pearson’s removals from the Tennessee house of representatives would “not go on unchallenged”.