Tennessee Republicans expelled two black lawmakers from the State Senate, but a white woman colleague, who escaped being thrown out by one vote, said the men were forced out because of the color of their skin. 

Justin Pearson and Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson, Democrats, were accused of disrupting the State Senate in Nashville to discuss gun violence following the shooting the at the Covenant School, grade school last Monday which a gunman woman killed three children and three adults. The shooter was fatally shot by police. 

Pearson, Jones, and Johnson used Bullhorns to get the attention of their fellow Senators in the chamber after their microphones were shut off. Senate leaders called the use of bull horns a decorum violation, which was why two were expelled.

President Joe Biden even spoke up to condemn Republican lawmakers’ actions Thursday evening. 

“Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting,†Biden wrote on Twitter. “And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. It’s shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent.â€

Tennessee State Police stood shoulder to block the entrance to the state house and supporters yelled their disapproval from outside the building and the balcony.

Both Pearson and Jones said will run again for their seats. After Johnson was saved by one vote, audience members chanted “Gloria.â€

Pearson said Tennessee is where the Klu Klux Klan, a White terrorist organization, was founded and called it an act of White supremacy and the White males’ patriarchy. But men were expelled by a vote 72-25 nearly on party lines. 

Several members of the Metro City Council say they will vote to reappoint Jones as soon as the council meets again, including Freddie O’Connell who tweeted that the expulsion “is an affront both to lives lost and the will of the voters.â€

The Metro Council will have a special meeting on Monday, April 10 to discuss filling the now-vacant District 52 seat.

Expulsion by the Senate is rare.

In 2022, the state senate expelled a Democrat, Katrina Robinson, after she was convicted of using about $3,400 in federal grant money on wedding expenses instead of her nursing school.

Before that case, state lawmakers last ousted a house member in 2016, voting 70-2 to remove the Republican Jeremy Durham after an investigation detailed allegations of improper sexual contact with at least 22 women in four years in office.