![Lawmakers move swiftly to expel three Democrats for their role in 'insurrection' at Tennessee state Capitol](https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/lawmakers-move-swiftly-to-expel-three-democrats-for-their-role-in-insurrection-at-tennessee-state-capitol.jpg?id=33406600&width=1245&height=700&quality=85&coordinates=0%2C0%2C146%2C0)
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Three Tennessee Democrats face expulsion from the General Assembly for their role in a protest that state House Republicans described as an "insurrection."
Last Thursday, protesters demanding stricter gun control laws overwhelmed the state Capitol.
At one point, three Democratic state lawmakers — Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson — broke decorum rules when they approached the House chamber lectern without being recognized to speak, whipped out a bullhorn, and participated with protesters who shouted from the chamber galleries.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) later described the protest as an "insurrection."
On Monday, Republicans officially introduced formal resolutions to expel Johnson, Jones, and Pearson from the General Assembly.
The resolution justifies the expulsion based on grounds that the lawmakers "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions," according to the Tennessean.
The three lawmakers were also stripped of their committee assignments, and their access to the Capitol was revoked.
The lawmakers are fiercely defending themselves, arguing there was not an "insurrection" and claiming House Republicans refused to let them speak last week.
The vote to expel the lawmakers is expected to take place on Thursday.
Only two Tennessee state lawmakers have been expelled from the state House since the Civil War, and each expulsion was bipartisan. Democrats do not have the votes to block the expulsions.
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