CA AJR5

California Legislature denounces the April 2023 expulsion of two African-American Democratic Representatives (Justin Pearson and Justin Jones) by the Tennessee House of Representatives for their participation in a peaceful gun control protest at the State Capitol following the March 27, 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville.

The resolution notes that a third Democratic Representative, Gloria Johnson (who is white), was exonerated despite similar participation in the protest, suggesting racial discrimination in the expulsion decisions.

States that the expelled Representatives were exercising constitutionally protected rights of free speech and freedom of protest, and that the expulsions violated Tennessee's own constitutional protections for legislative dissent.

Asserts the expulsions were undemocratic and without precedent, citing condemnation from President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Warns that such actions threaten democracy and could encourage other states to take similar unjust measures against elected representatives.