Historic ousting of Black TN Dems demands nation's full atte
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 9:53 am
Historic ousting of Black TN Dems demands nation's full attention
by Lawrence O'Donnell
MSNBC
Apr 6, 2023 #MSNBC #Tennessee #Republicans
The Tennessee Republican legislature has a lot to be ashamed for, including expelling Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two Black members of the Tennessee House of Representatives. MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell explains why the people being attacked are winning even when it looks like they are losing.
Transcript
>> WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM
PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE
SITUATION IN TENNESSEE TONIGHT
IT WAS JUST RELEASED BY THE
WHITE HOUSE.
THE PRESIDENT SAID A STATE
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CALLED
VOTES TODAY TO EXPEL THREE
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS WHO
STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND
HELPED LIFT THEIR VOICES
TODAY'S EXPULSION OF LAWMAKERS
WHO ENGAGED IN PEACEFUL PROTEST
IS SHOCKING, UNDEMOCRATIC, AND
WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
RATHER THAN A DEBATING THE
MERITS OF THE ISSUE OF, THESE
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE
CHOSEN TO PUNISH, SILENCE, AND
EXPEL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE
WE HAD PLANNED TO COVER SEVERAL
STORIES FOR YOU IN THIS HOUR
INCLUDING THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT
THE APPARENT CORRUPTION AND
ETHICAL RULE BREAKING BY
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE
THOMAS AND HIS FAILURE TO
DISCLOSE SEVERAL HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF
PRIVATE JET TRAVEL AND OTHER
GIFTS FROM A WEALTHY REPUBLICAN
POLITICAL DONOR.
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE
PRESIDENT, HISTORY HAPPENS
TODAY AND TONIGHT IN TENNESSEE
HISTORY WHICH DEMANDS THE FULL
ATTENTION OF THIS COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW TONIGHT.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS
COUNTRY THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH,
THIS YEAR.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXAGGERATE
THE HISTORIC IMPORTANCE TO ALL
OF US OF WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT
IN TENNESSEE
THE SENIOR MEMBERS OF OUR
AUDIENCE HAVE LIVED THROUGH
HISTORY LIKE THIS BEFORE
THEY HAVE HAD THIS FEELING
BEFORE
THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF OUR
AUDIENCE MIGHT NOT BE SO
FAMILIAR WITH IT
IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO
REMEMBER THE DAY THAT THIS
HAPPENED, DURING THE 1960S WHEN
THE SOUTHERN STATES WERE TRYING
TO ENFORCE THEIR VERSION OF
POST CIVIL WAR APARTHEID, YOU
HAVE HAD THIS FEELING BEFORE
IF YOU REMEMBER THIS ENOUGH
STUDENTS TRYING TO INTEGRATE A
LUNCH COUNTER AND BIRMINGHAM
ALABAMA, YOU HAVE HAD THIS
FEELING BEFORE
THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THOSE IMAGES
AND THE NEWS COVERAGE OF THOSE
DAYS HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THEM
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, SO
IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE TONIGHT.
WHAT NO ONE KNEW IN THE 1960S
WHEN THOSE IMAGES OF VICIOUS
ABUSE OF BLACK PEOPLE WERE ON
TV NEWS AND IN OUR NEWSPAPERS
IS WHO WAS WINNING
WHO WAS WINNING?
IT LOOKED LIKE EVIL WAS WINNING
EVERY DAY THAT THE AMERICAN
NEWS MEDIA WERE FILLED WITH
VICIOUS AND VIOLENT ABUSE OF
PEOPLE FIGHTING AGAINST
SEGREGATION AND OPPRESSION IN
THE SOUTH.
WHAT WE COULD NOT KNOW THEN AND
WHAT WE COULD NOT SEE IN THE
IMAGES IS THAT THE PEOPLE BEING
ATTACKED WERE ACTUALLY WINNING
THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED WERE
WINNING EVENTUALLY THE RIGHT TO
VOTE
THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED WERE
WINNING EVENTUALLY IN THE RIGHT
TO HOLD ELECTIVE OFFICE
THEMSELVES
JOHN LEWIS WENT FROM BEING
BEATEN NEARLY TO DEATH AND
CELLMATE TO BEING ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED WERE
WINNING.
EVEN WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE
WERE LOSING, THE PEOPLE BEING
ATTACKED WOULD GO ON TO DECIDE
THE OUTCOMES IN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS.
TONIGHT IS A NIGHT FOR THE
CHILDREN OF AMERICA TO WATCH
WHAT HAPPENED IN TENNESSEE
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
THIS IS NOT JUST A PART OF
HISTORY THEY NEED TO KNOW.
THIS IS THE HISTORY THAT
AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY
LIVING THROUGH THEMSELVES.
I WAS A LITTLE BOY GROWING UP
IN SEGREGATED BOSTON WATCHING
THOSE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED IN
THE 1960S FOR TRYING TO BREAK
THE LOCK OF SEGREGATION.
SEEING THAT TAUGHT ME AS A
LITTLE BOY ABOUT THE
SEGREGATION OF THE CITY THAT I
LIVED IN
SEEING THAT VIOLENCE AND HATRED
AND POISON AND EVIL OPEN MY
EYES TO THE JUSTICE WE SHOULD
ALL ASPIRE TO WHEN I WAS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I WAS THE SAME AGE AS THE THREE
CHILDREN SHOT AND MURDERED IN
OTHER SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, THE
SHOOTING THAT PROVOKED WHAT
HAPPENED TONIGHT IN TENNESSEE.
THAT IS WHAT THIS HISTORY
MAKING SCENE IN TENNESSEE AND
THE LEGISLATURE WAS ALL ABOUT.
IT WAS ABOUT THE LIFE AND DEATH
OF CHILDREN IN AMERICA
IT WAS ABOUT THOSE DEAD
CHILDREN AND WHO WAS TRYING TO
PROTECT THE CHILDREN IN
TENNESSEE AND WHO ISN'T.
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
LIVING HISTORY LIKE THIS, YOU
OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO STOP WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, TO STOP WHAT YOU
ARE THINKING AND PAY ATTENTION
TO THAT HISTORY AND ALLOW
YOURSELF TO FEEL THAT HISTORY
BECAUSE IT IS THE FEELINGS THAT
YOU OPEN YOURSELF TO IN
HISTORIC OUTBURSTS OF UNIQUELY
AMERICAN EVIL LIKE THIS THAT
WILL GUIDE YOU IN HOW YOU THINK
AND FEEL ABOUT JUSTICE FOR THE
REST OF YOUR LIFE.
THERE IS NO AGE TOO YOUNG TO BE
EXPOSED TO THE HISTORY MADE IN
TENNESSEE TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE
IS NO AGE TOO YOUNG IN THIS
COUNTRY FOR A CHILD'S HEAD TO
BE BLOWN OFF BY AN AR-15 IN AN
AMERICAN CLASSROOM
IT HAS HAPPENED IN
KINDERGARTENS!
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE IN LIFE TO
OPEN YOUR HEART IN MOMENTS OF
STUNNING MORAL CLARITY, THE
KIND THAT AMERICA FACES
TONIGHT.
TENNESSEE HAS MUCH TO BE
ASHAMED OF IN ITS HISTORY.
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
HOUSED IN A BUILDING BUILT BY
SLAVES HAS HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF
SHAME IN ITS HISTORY
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE NEVER
EXPELLED A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE
KU KLUX KLAN FROM THAT
LEGISLATURE.
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE NEVER
DID ANYTHING ABOUT THE HUNDREDS
OF LYNCHINGS OF BLACK PEOPLE
THAT OCCURRED IN THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE.
THEY NEVER DID A THING ABOUT
THAT
WHEN YOU HAVE A HISTORY LIKE
TENNESSEE'S, YOUR STATE HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO TRY HARDER
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AS A
STATE OFFICIALLY COMMITTED
TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WAGED
WAR AGAINST UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
THERE IS A LOT TO BE ASHAMED OF
IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE.
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WAS
NEVER GOING TO END SLAVERY
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WAS
NEVER GOING TO ALLOW BLACK
PEOPLE TO VOTE
IT TOOK THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA TO FORCE THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE TO DO THOSE THINGS AT
GUNPOINT
IN A STATE WHERE GUN VIOLENCE
CHANGED THE COURSE OF AMERICAN
HISTORY, TENNESSEE OWES THIS
COUNTRY PROOF THAT IT IS TRYING
HARDER
TENNESSEE, A STATE WHERE THE
REVERENT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
JUNIOR WAS ASSASSINATED AND
CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY
TENNESSEE TOOK ITS PLACE AGAIN
TONIGHT IN DELIVERING POLITICAL
ASSASSINATIONS TO TWO BLACK
MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE WELL AT THE VERY
SAME TIME THEY VOTED NOT TO
PUNISH IN ANY WAY A WHITE
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR
DOING EXACTLY, EXACTLY WHAT THE
TWO BLACK MEMBERS DID.
THE RACISTS IN THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE COULD NOT HAVE
SCREAMED THEIR HATRED MORE
LOUDLY AND CLEARLY THAN THEY
DID WITH THEIR SILENT
COWARDLY VOTES
I WAS VERY LUCKY WHEN I WAS A
LITTLE KID WATCHING TELEVISION
NEWS AND HAVING MARTIN LUTHER
KING EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT I WAS
SEEING IN THE NEWS FOOTAGE FROM
ALABAMA AND ELSEWHERE.
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE MARTIN
LUTHER KING GUIDING US THROUGH
THAT PERIOD.
AMERICA IS LUCKY TONIGHT
THE PEOPLE, THE RACIST
REPUBLICAN TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE, ATTACKED AND
EXPELLED ARE THE MOST NOBLE AND
WISE GUIDES WE COULD POSSIBLY
HAVE TO THE HISTORY THAT
UNFOLDED IN TENNESSEE TONIGHT.
THE REPUBLICAN WHO SPONSORED
THE RESOLUTION TO EXPEL THREE
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE
TENNESSEE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FOR ENGAGING IN
A PROTEST ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BEING
HEARD BY THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT
THE MURDERS IN THE LATEST
SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TENNESSEE
THE SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION
TO EXPEL THOSE MEMBERS EXPOSED
HIMSELF TONIGHT, FULLY EXPOSED
HIMSELF TONIGHT.
HE EXPOSED HIMSELF FOR BEING
THE 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF
BULL CONNOR THAT HE REALLY IS.
TONIGHT, THE SPIRITUAL AIR OF
THE BULL CONNOR OPPRESSIVE
SPIRIT IN THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE THE, PUBLIC AND
REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW FARMER
POKED HIS FINGER THAT HE
APPARENTLY BELIEVES IS FULL OF
WHITE SUPERIORITY.
HE POINTED IT AT THE HONORABLE
NOW FORMER MEMBER OF THE
TENNESSEE HOUSE JUSTIN PEARSON
>> AS I AM LISTENING, I'M
THINKING TO MYSELF, YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND
YOU TRULY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
YOU ARE STANDING THERE TODAY
YOU DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY
I AUTHOR THAT RESOLUTION
IT WAS NOT AN EASY THING FOR ME
TO DO.
I'M HEARING YOU BLAME THIS ON
YOUR YOUTH
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET YOUR
WAY, YOU GRAB A COUPLE FRIENDS
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN COME
TO THE WELL WHILE WE ARE
CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN SESSION
OTHER MEMBERS ARE WAITING TO
HAVE THEIR BILLS TO BE HEARD
THEY HAVE CONSTITUENTS, 60,000
OR 70,000.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE -
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET YOUR
WAY, YOU CAN'T COME TO THE WELL,
BRING YOUR FRIENDS, AND THROW
TEMPER TANTRUM WITH AN
ADOLESCENT BULLHORN.
IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT
TO ENRAGE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE
TO WATCH THIS BODY CONDUCT
BUSINESS AND TALK ABOUT THINGS
YOU KNOW GOOD AND WELL THAT WE
HAVE WORKED HARD, VERY HARD TO
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IN THE
STATE OF TENNESSEE
>> YOU ALL HEARD THAT.
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO
BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY?
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO
BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY?
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO
BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY?
THE REASON, I BELIEVE, THE
SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION,
THIS RESOLUTION MISSPOKE THAT
WAY IS BECAUSE HE'S COMFORTABLE
DOING IT
THERE IS A DECORUM THAT ALLOWS
IT
THERE IS A DECORUM THAT ALLOWS
YOU TO BELITTLE PEOPLE.
WE DIDN'T BELITTLE NOBODY.
WHAT WE SAID WAS THAT WE CANNOT
BE BEHOLDEN TO GUN LOBBYISTS
THE NRA.
WE CANNOT BE BEHOLDEN TO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T WANT
TO SEE AS MAKE BROAD ARREST ON
GUN VIOLENCE
THERE IS SOMETHING, SOMETHING
ELSE THAT I THINK THAT THE
SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS
ALLUDED TO
THERE WERE A FEW THINGS HERE
THAT YOU SAID THAT I WANT TO
ADDRESS.
HE CALLED A PEACEFUL PROTEST ON
TEMPERATURE.
IS WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE
THESE DOORS BY PEOPLE OF
TENNESSEE WHO WANT TO SEE
CHANGE A TEMPER TANTRUM?
SARA'S SON KNOW WHAT WAS AT THE
COVENANT SCHOOL.
HE SURVIVED.
HE'S FIVE YEARS OLD.
SHE SHOWED UP HERE DEMANDING
THAT WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE
IS THAT A TEMPER TANTRUM
IT IS ELEVATING OUR VOICES FOR
JUSTICE OR CHANGE A TEMPER
TANTRUM?
THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE
DECORUM OF THIS BODY THAT MAKE
IT OKAY TO SAY THAT FOLKS ARE
EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO SPEAK UP
FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND
OF PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY THAT WE
REPRESENT, THERE'S SOMETHING IN
THE DECORUM OF THIS BODY THAT
SAYS IT IS OKAY TO CALL THAT A
TEMPER TANTRUM, TO CALL PEOPLE
WE DISAGREE WITH ON THE ISSUES
TO, SAY THEY ALL THEY WANT'S
ATTENTION.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, I DON'T
PERSONALLY WANT ATTENTION.
WHAT I WANT'S ATTENTION ON THE
ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE.
INSTEAD, WE ARE HERE WITH THE
RESOLUTION YOU PUT UP A TALKIN
ABOUT EXPELLING ME FOR
ADVOCATING FOR ENDING GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE TALKING
WITH YOU ABOUT LEGISLATION TO
PROTECT SHELBY COUNTY AND TO
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES THAN
TALKING ABOUT WHY WE DON'T
DESERVE TO HAVE OU
REPRESENTATION LOST BECAUSE WE
CAME TO THE WELL OF THIS HOUSE
SAYING, WE'VE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING!
>> THE WHITE REPUBLICAN MAN OF
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
BELIEVES THEY HAD MUCH TO TEACH
THE TWO BLACK MEN WHO THEY HAVE
DECIDED TO EXPEL
ONE OF THE WHITE REPUBLICAN MEN
TOLD REPRESENTATIVE PEARSON
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RULES
THAT WAS THE ONLY TRUE THING
THAT REPUBLICAN SAID TONIGHT
IT CLEARLY WAS NOT ABOUT THE
RULES BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE
RULES OF THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE NO ONE IN THE
HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATURE HAD
EVER BEEN EXPELLED FOR ISSUES
OF WHAT THEY ARE CALLING
DECORUM.
THEY'VE ONLY BEEN EXPELLED FOR
BEING FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES
REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT WHO SAID
THAT ABOUT NOT BEING ABOUT THE
RULES, HE ALSO SAID THIS
>> WE ALL, ALL OF US WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO
MORE CHILDREN KILLED
>> THAT IS SUCH AN EASY
SENTENCE FOR HIM TO SAY BUT NOT
A SINGLE REPUBLICAN IN THAT
LEGISLATURE HAS EVER CONSIDERED
DOING ANYTHING TO STOP THE
CHILDREN OF TENNESSEE FROM
BEING MURDERED IN THEIR SCHOOL
BY LEGALLY PURCHASED AR-15S.
THAT IS THE WEAPON, LEGALLY
PURCHASED, THAT KILLED 39 YEAR
OLD CHILDREN IN THAT NASHVILLE
SCHOOL LAST WEEK
REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERTH'S THIS
WEEK EXPLAINED TO STUDENT
PROTESTERS AT THE LEGISLATURE
THAT IT DID NOT MATTER AT ALL
THAT IT WAS AN AR-15
HERE IS WHAT HE SAID TO THEM
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS ONE
GUN
IF THERE IS A FIREARM OUT THERE
THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE BEING
SHOT WITH, THEN SHOW ME WHAT IT
IS
>> THERE'S A FIREARM OUT THERE
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE BEING SHOT
WITH, PLEASE SHOW ME WHICH ONE
IT IS.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF A
MORE DESPICABLE THING TO SAY TO
STUDENTS WHO ARE AFRAID OF
BEING SHOT AND MURDERED IN
THEIR CLASSROOMS
WHAT OTHER GUN WOULD YOU LIKE
TO BE SHOT WITH?
THE AR-15 AS WE HAVE REPORTED
ON THIS PROGRAM AS THE
WASHINGTON POST HAS REPORTED
THIS WEEK THERE'S MUCH MORE
DAMAGE TO THE HUMAN BODY
INCLUDING FATAL DAMAGE, THAN
OTHER FIREARMS
MANY CHILDREN COULD HAVE
SURVIVED BEING SHOT IN SOME OF
OUR SCHOOL SHOOTINGS BY A LESS
POWERFUL FIREARM THAN AN AR-15
THE AR-15 DOES MATTER.
THE AR-15 HAS ACTUALLY BEHEADED
SOME SMALL STUDENTS.
THAT HAS HAPPENED IN UVALDE.
ANOTHER WEAPON WOULD NOT BE
CAPABLE OF THAT.
BANNING THE AR-15 WOULD HELP
BANNING THE AR-15 FOR TEN YEARS
WHICH WE DID WHEN JOE BIDEN GOT
THAT PASS WHAT HE WAS A SENATOR
THAT DID HELP.
HERE IS WHAT REPRESENTATIVE
PIERSON HAD TO SAY IN THE HOUSE
TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO
REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERTH.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE THAT
THURSDAY WHO YOU NEVER
RECOGNIZED
WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HERE WHO YOUR COLLEAGUES
NEVER MADE EYE CONTACT WITH OR
SMIRKED AT AND GAVE A THUMBS UP
OR LEFT IT WHAT?
ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WHO CAME HERE SAYING, WE NEED
TO END GUN VIOLENCE?
WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING!
THEY WERE CALLED
INSURRECTIONISTS BY THE SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE
WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO MARCHED THE STREETS
OF NASHVILLE AND CAME TO THE
by Lawrence O'Donnell
MSNBC
Apr 6, 2023 #MSNBC #Tennessee #Republicans
The Tennessee Republican legislature has a lot to be ashamed for, including expelling Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two Black members of the Tennessee House of Representatives. MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell explains why the people being attacked are winning even when it looks like they are losing.
Transcript
>> WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM
PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE
SITUATION IN TENNESSEE TONIGHT
IT WAS JUST RELEASED BY THE
WHITE HOUSE.
THE PRESIDENT SAID A STATE
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CALLED
VOTES TODAY TO EXPEL THREE
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS WHO
STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND
HELPED LIFT THEIR VOICES
TODAY'S EXPULSION OF LAWMAKERS
WHO ENGAGED IN PEACEFUL PROTEST
IS SHOCKING, UNDEMOCRATIC, AND
WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
RATHER THAN A DEBATING THE
MERITS OF THE ISSUE OF, THESE
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE
CHOSEN TO PUNISH, SILENCE, AND
EXPEL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE
WE HAD PLANNED TO COVER SEVERAL
STORIES FOR YOU IN THIS HOUR
INCLUDING THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT
THE APPARENT CORRUPTION AND
ETHICAL RULE BREAKING BY
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLARENCE
THOMAS AND HIS FAILURE TO
DISCLOSE SEVERAL HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF
PRIVATE JET TRAVEL AND OTHER
GIFTS FROM A WEALTHY REPUBLICAN
POLITICAL DONOR.
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE
PRESIDENT, HISTORY HAPPENS
TODAY AND TONIGHT IN TENNESSEE
HISTORY WHICH DEMANDS THE FULL
ATTENTION OF THIS COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW TONIGHT.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS
COUNTRY THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH,
THIS YEAR.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXAGGERATE
THE HISTORIC IMPORTANCE TO ALL
OF US OF WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT
IN TENNESSEE
THE SENIOR MEMBERS OF OUR
AUDIENCE HAVE LIVED THROUGH
HISTORY LIKE THIS BEFORE
THEY HAVE HAD THIS FEELING
BEFORE
THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF OUR
AUDIENCE MIGHT NOT BE SO
FAMILIAR WITH IT
IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO
REMEMBER THE DAY THAT THIS
HAPPENED, DURING THE 1960S WHEN
THE SOUTHERN STATES WERE TRYING
TO ENFORCE THEIR VERSION OF
POST CIVIL WAR APARTHEID, YOU
HAVE HAD THIS FEELING BEFORE
IF YOU REMEMBER THIS ENOUGH
STUDENTS TRYING TO INTEGRATE A
LUNCH COUNTER AND BIRMINGHAM
ALABAMA, YOU HAVE HAD THIS
FEELING BEFORE
THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THOSE IMAGES
AND THE NEWS COVERAGE OF THOSE
DAYS HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THEM
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, SO
IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE TONIGHT.
WHAT NO ONE KNEW IN THE 1960S
WHEN THOSE IMAGES OF VICIOUS
ABUSE OF BLACK PEOPLE WERE ON
TV NEWS AND IN OUR NEWSPAPERS
IS WHO WAS WINNING
WHO WAS WINNING?
IT LOOKED LIKE EVIL WAS WINNING
EVERY DAY THAT THE AMERICAN
NEWS MEDIA WERE FILLED WITH
VICIOUS AND VIOLENT ABUSE OF
PEOPLE FIGHTING AGAINST
SEGREGATION AND OPPRESSION IN
THE SOUTH.
WHAT WE COULD NOT KNOW THEN AND
WHAT WE COULD NOT SEE IN THE
IMAGES IS THAT THE PEOPLE BEING
ATTACKED WERE ACTUALLY WINNING
THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED WERE
WINNING EVENTUALLY THE RIGHT TO
VOTE
THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED WERE
WINNING EVENTUALLY IN THE RIGHT
TO HOLD ELECTIVE OFFICE
THEMSELVES
JOHN LEWIS WENT FROM BEING
BEATEN NEARLY TO DEATH AND
CELLMATE TO BEING ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED WERE
WINNING.
EVEN WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE
WERE LOSING, THE PEOPLE BEING
ATTACKED WOULD GO ON TO DECIDE
THE OUTCOMES IN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS.
TONIGHT IS A NIGHT FOR THE
CHILDREN OF AMERICA TO WATCH
WHAT HAPPENED IN TENNESSEE
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
THIS IS NOT JUST A PART OF
HISTORY THEY NEED TO KNOW.
THIS IS THE HISTORY THAT
AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY
LIVING THROUGH THEMSELVES.
I WAS A LITTLE BOY GROWING UP
IN SEGREGATED BOSTON WATCHING
THOSE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED IN
THE 1960S FOR TRYING TO BREAK
THE LOCK OF SEGREGATION.
SEEING THAT TAUGHT ME AS A
LITTLE BOY ABOUT THE
SEGREGATION OF THE CITY THAT I
LIVED IN
SEEING THAT VIOLENCE AND HATRED
AND POISON AND EVIL OPEN MY
EYES TO THE JUSTICE WE SHOULD
ALL ASPIRE TO WHEN I WAS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I WAS THE SAME AGE AS THE THREE
CHILDREN SHOT AND MURDERED IN
OTHER SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, THE
SHOOTING THAT PROVOKED WHAT
HAPPENED TONIGHT IN TENNESSEE.
THAT IS WHAT THIS HISTORY
MAKING SCENE IN TENNESSEE AND
THE LEGISLATURE WAS ALL ABOUT.
IT WAS ABOUT THE LIFE AND DEATH
OF CHILDREN IN AMERICA
IT WAS ABOUT THOSE DEAD
CHILDREN AND WHO WAS TRYING TO
PROTECT THE CHILDREN IN
TENNESSEE AND WHO ISN'T.
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
LIVING HISTORY LIKE THIS, YOU
OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO STOP WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, TO STOP WHAT YOU
ARE THINKING AND PAY ATTENTION
TO THAT HISTORY AND ALLOW
YOURSELF TO FEEL THAT HISTORY
BECAUSE IT IS THE FEELINGS THAT
YOU OPEN YOURSELF TO IN
HISTORIC OUTBURSTS OF UNIQUELY
AMERICAN EVIL LIKE THIS THAT
WILL GUIDE YOU IN HOW YOU THINK
AND FEEL ABOUT JUSTICE FOR THE
REST OF YOUR LIFE.
THERE IS NO AGE TOO YOUNG TO BE
EXPOSED TO THE HISTORY MADE IN
TENNESSEE TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE
IS NO AGE TOO YOUNG IN THIS
COUNTRY FOR A CHILD'S HEAD TO
BE BLOWN OFF BY AN AR-15 IN AN
AMERICAN CLASSROOM
IT HAS HAPPENED IN
KINDERGARTENS!
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE IN LIFE TO
OPEN YOUR HEART IN MOMENTS OF
STUNNING MORAL CLARITY, THE
KIND THAT AMERICA FACES
TONIGHT.
TENNESSEE HAS MUCH TO BE
ASHAMED OF IN ITS HISTORY.
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
HOUSED IN A BUILDING BUILT BY
SLAVES HAS HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF
SHAME IN ITS HISTORY
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE NEVER
EXPELLED A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE
KU KLUX KLAN FROM THAT
LEGISLATURE.
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE NEVER
DID ANYTHING ABOUT THE HUNDREDS
OF LYNCHINGS OF BLACK PEOPLE
THAT OCCURRED IN THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE.
THEY NEVER DID A THING ABOUT
THAT
WHEN YOU HAVE A HISTORY LIKE
TENNESSEE'S, YOUR STATE HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO TRY HARDER
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AS A
STATE OFFICIALLY COMMITTED
TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WAGED
WAR AGAINST UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
THERE IS A LOT TO BE ASHAMED OF
IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE.
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WAS
NEVER GOING TO END SLAVERY
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE WAS
NEVER GOING TO ALLOW BLACK
PEOPLE TO VOTE
IT TOOK THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA TO FORCE THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE TO DO THOSE THINGS AT
GUNPOINT
IN A STATE WHERE GUN VIOLENCE
CHANGED THE COURSE OF AMERICAN
HISTORY, TENNESSEE OWES THIS
COUNTRY PROOF THAT IT IS TRYING
HARDER
TENNESSEE, A STATE WHERE THE
REVERENT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
JUNIOR WAS ASSASSINATED AND
CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY
TENNESSEE TOOK ITS PLACE AGAIN
TONIGHT IN DELIVERING POLITICAL
ASSASSINATIONS TO TWO BLACK
MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE WELL AT THE VERY
SAME TIME THEY VOTED NOT TO
PUNISH IN ANY WAY A WHITE
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR
DOING EXACTLY, EXACTLY WHAT THE
TWO BLACK MEMBERS DID.
THE RACISTS IN THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE COULD NOT HAVE
SCREAMED THEIR HATRED MORE
LOUDLY AND CLEARLY THAN THEY
DID WITH THEIR SILENT
COWARDLY VOTES
I WAS VERY LUCKY WHEN I WAS A
LITTLE KID WATCHING TELEVISION
NEWS AND HAVING MARTIN LUTHER
KING EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT I WAS
SEEING IN THE NEWS FOOTAGE FROM
ALABAMA AND ELSEWHERE.
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE MARTIN
LUTHER KING GUIDING US THROUGH
THAT PERIOD.
AMERICA IS LUCKY TONIGHT
THE PEOPLE, THE RACIST
REPUBLICAN TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE, ATTACKED AND
EXPELLED ARE THE MOST NOBLE AND
WISE GUIDES WE COULD POSSIBLY
HAVE TO THE HISTORY THAT
UNFOLDED IN TENNESSEE TONIGHT.
THE REPUBLICAN WHO SPONSORED
THE RESOLUTION TO EXPEL THREE
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE
TENNESSEE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FOR ENGAGING IN
A PROTEST ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BEING
HEARD BY THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT
THE MURDERS IN THE LATEST
SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TENNESSEE
THE SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION
TO EXPEL THOSE MEMBERS EXPOSED
HIMSELF TONIGHT, FULLY EXPOSED
HIMSELF TONIGHT.
HE EXPOSED HIMSELF FOR BEING
THE 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF
BULL CONNOR THAT HE REALLY IS.
TONIGHT, THE SPIRITUAL AIR OF
THE BULL CONNOR OPPRESSIVE
SPIRIT IN THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE THE, PUBLIC AND
REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW FARMER
POKED HIS FINGER THAT HE
APPARENTLY BELIEVES IS FULL OF
WHITE SUPERIORITY.
HE POINTED IT AT THE HONORABLE
NOW FORMER MEMBER OF THE
TENNESSEE HOUSE JUSTIN PEARSON
>> AS I AM LISTENING, I'M
THINKING TO MYSELF, YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND
YOU TRULY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
YOU ARE STANDING THERE TODAY
YOU DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY
I AUTHOR THAT RESOLUTION
IT WAS NOT AN EASY THING FOR ME
TO DO.
I'M HEARING YOU BLAME THIS ON
YOUR YOUTH
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET YOUR
WAY, YOU GRAB A COUPLE FRIENDS
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN COME
TO THE WELL WHILE WE ARE
CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN SESSION
OTHER MEMBERS ARE WAITING TO
HAVE THEIR BILLS TO BE HEARD
THEY HAVE CONSTITUENTS, 60,000
OR 70,000.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE -
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET YOUR
WAY, YOU CAN'T COME TO THE WELL,
BRING YOUR FRIENDS, AND THROW
TEMPER TANTRUM WITH AN
ADOLESCENT BULLHORN.
IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT
TO ENRAGE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE
TO WATCH THIS BODY CONDUCT
BUSINESS AND TALK ABOUT THINGS
YOU KNOW GOOD AND WELL THAT WE
HAVE WORKED HARD, VERY HARD TO
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IN THE
STATE OF TENNESSEE
>> YOU ALL HEARD THAT.
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO
BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY?
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO
BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY?
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO
BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY?
THE REASON, I BELIEVE, THE
SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION,
THIS RESOLUTION MISSPOKE THAT
WAY IS BECAUSE HE'S COMFORTABLE
DOING IT
THERE IS A DECORUM THAT ALLOWS
IT
THERE IS A DECORUM THAT ALLOWS
YOU TO BELITTLE PEOPLE.
WE DIDN'T BELITTLE NOBODY.
WHAT WE SAID WAS THAT WE CANNOT
BE BEHOLDEN TO GUN LOBBYISTS
THE NRA.
WE CANNOT BE BEHOLDEN TO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T WANT
TO SEE AS MAKE BROAD ARREST ON
GUN VIOLENCE
THERE IS SOMETHING, SOMETHING
ELSE THAT I THINK THAT THE
SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION HAS
ALLUDED TO
THERE WERE A FEW THINGS HERE
THAT YOU SAID THAT I WANT TO
ADDRESS.
HE CALLED A PEACEFUL PROTEST ON
TEMPERATURE.
IS WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE
THESE DOORS BY PEOPLE OF
TENNESSEE WHO WANT TO SEE
CHANGE A TEMPER TANTRUM?
SARA'S SON KNOW WHAT WAS AT THE
COVENANT SCHOOL.
HE SURVIVED.
HE'S FIVE YEARS OLD.
SHE SHOWED UP HERE DEMANDING
THAT WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE
IS THAT A TEMPER TANTRUM
IT IS ELEVATING OUR VOICES FOR
JUSTICE OR CHANGE A TEMPER
TANTRUM?
THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE
DECORUM OF THIS BODY THAT MAKE
IT OKAY TO SAY THAT FOLKS ARE
EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO SPEAK UP
FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND
OF PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY THAT WE
REPRESENT, THERE'S SOMETHING IN
THE DECORUM OF THIS BODY THAT
SAYS IT IS OKAY TO CALL THAT A
TEMPER TANTRUM, TO CALL PEOPLE
WE DISAGREE WITH ON THE ISSUES
TO, SAY THEY ALL THEY WANT'S
ATTENTION.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, I DON'T
PERSONALLY WANT ATTENTION.
WHAT I WANT'S ATTENTION ON THE
ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE.
INSTEAD, WE ARE HERE WITH THE
RESOLUTION YOU PUT UP A TALKIN
ABOUT EXPELLING ME FOR
ADVOCATING FOR ENDING GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE TALKING
WITH YOU ABOUT LEGISLATION TO
PROTECT SHELBY COUNTY AND TO
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES THAN
TALKING ABOUT WHY WE DON'T
DESERVE TO HAVE OU
REPRESENTATION LOST BECAUSE WE
CAME TO THE WELL OF THIS HOUSE
SAYING, WE'VE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING!
>> THE WHITE REPUBLICAN MAN OF
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
BELIEVES THEY HAD MUCH TO TEACH
THE TWO BLACK MEN WHO THEY HAVE
DECIDED TO EXPEL
ONE OF THE WHITE REPUBLICAN MEN
TOLD REPRESENTATIVE PEARSON
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RULES
THAT WAS THE ONLY TRUE THING
THAT REPUBLICAN SAID TONIGHT
IT CLEARLY WAS NOT ABOUT THE
RULES BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE
RULES OF THE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE NO ONE IN THE
HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATURE HAD
EVER BEEN EXPELLED FOR ISSUES
OF WHAT THEY ARE CALLING
DECORUM.
THEY'VE ONLY BEEN EXPELLED FOR
BEING FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES
REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT WHO SAID
THAT ABOUT NOT BEING ABOUT THE
RULES, HE ALSO SAID THIS
>> WE ALL, ALL OF US WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO
MORE CHILDREN KILLED
>> THAT IS SUCH AN EASY
SENTENCE FOR HIM TO SAY BUT NOT
A SINGLE REPUBLICAN IN THAT
LEGISLATURE HAS EVER CONSIDERED
DOING ANYTHING TO STOP THE
CHILDREN OF TENNESSEE FROM
BEING MURDERED IN THEIR SCHOOL
BY LEGALLY PURCHASED AR-15S.
THAT IS THE WEAPON, LEGALLY
PURCHASED, THAT KILLED 39 YEAR
OLD CHILDREN IN THAT NASHVILLE
SCHOOL LAST WEEK
REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERTH'S THIS
WEEK EXPLAINED TO STUDENT
PROTESTERS AT THE LEGISLATURE
THAT IT DID NOT MATTER AT ALL
THAT IT WAS AN AR-15
HERE IS WHAT HE SAID TO THEM
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS ONE
GUN
IF THERE IS A FIREARM OUT THERE
THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE BEING
SHOT WITH, THEN SHOW ME WHAT IT
IS
>> THERE'S A FIREARM OUT THERE
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE BEING SHOT
WITH, PLEASE SHOW ME WHICH ONE
IT IS.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF A
MORE DESPICABLE THING TO SAY TO
STUDENTS WHO ARE AFRAID OF
BEING SHOT AND MURDERED IN
THEIR CLASSROOMS
WHAT OTHER GUN WOULD YOU LIKE
TO BE SHOT WITH?
THE AR-15 AS WE HAVE REPORTED
ON THIS PROGRAM AS THE
WASHINGTON POST HAS REPORTED
THIS WEEK THERE'S MUCH MORE
DAMAGE TO THE HUMAN BODY
INCLUDING FATAL DAMAGE, THAN
OTHER FIREARMS
MANY CHILDREN COULD HAVE
SURVIVED BEING SHOT IN SOME OF
OUR SCHOOL SHOOTINGS BY A LESS
POWERFUL FIREARM THAN AN AR-15
THE AR-15 DOES MATTER.
THE AR-15 HAS ACTUALLY BEHEADED
SOME SMALL STUDENTS.
THAT HAS HAPPENED IN UVALDE.
ANOTHER WEAPON WOULD NOT BE
CAPABLE OF THAT.
BANNING THE AR-15 WOULD HELP
BANNING THE AR-15 FOR TEN YEARS
WHICH WE DID WHEN JOE BIDEN GOT
THAT PASS WHAT HE WAS A SENATOR
THAT DID HELP.
HERE IS WHAT REPRESENTATIVE
PIERSON HAD TO SAY IN THE HOUSE
TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO
REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERTH.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE THAT
THURSDAY WHO YOU NEVER
RECOGNIZED
WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HERE WHO YOUR COLLEAGUES
NEVER MADE EYE CONTACT WITH OR
SMIRKED AT AND GAVE A THUMBS UP
OR LEFT IT WHAT?
ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WHO CAME HERE SAYING, WE NEED
TO END GUN VIOLENCE?
WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING!
THEY WERE CALLED
INSURRECTIONISTS BY THE SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE
WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO MARCHED THE STREETS
OF NASHVILLE AND CAME TO THE