"This is an assault on our democracy." Tennessee Republicans are trying to expel three Democratic lawmakers for supporting student-led gun control protests after last week's school shooting in Nashville. Representative Rep. Justin Jones speaks out against this retaliation.

Safer schools do not require armed teachers. Safer schools do not require more armed guards. Safer schools require sensible gun reform. #TennesseeThree

Next week, Ron DeSantis is going to make it illegal to teach what happened in Tennessee this week.

I stand in deep solidarity with the courageous Tennessee Three - my two expelled Black brothers Jones & Pearson & almost expelled White sister Johnson! Shame on the House Tennessee Republicans! Justin J. Pearson Rep. Justin Jones #TenneseeThree

Partial list of TN orgs that are doing excellent #VotingRights and #Democracy work here in TN and need your support: Organize Tennessee secure.actblue.com/donate/organiz… Free Hearts secure.actblue.com/donate/freehea… The Equity Alliance secure.everyaction.com/gdc_KQ0cn0WaUS… TIRRC Votes tnimmigrant.org/donate

When you get off the plane with the legendary Joan Baez you know it’s a movement of the spirit. She stands with us in our struggle in Tennessee and said she’s hopeful to see young voices leading. “WE SHALL OVERCOME…” Serendipitous, indeed.

I believe God is stirring something up from Memphis and on Tennessee soil…the city and state where my father was assassinated. “Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point, in Memphis. We've got to see it through.” #MLK, 4-3-68 [the day before he was assassinated]

The rhetorical gymnastics of the Tennessee "divisive concepts" bill is already well under way. Here, for example, is a list of the concepts in question. But I want to draw specific attention to the wording (A Thread).

For those who have ears …

EXCLUSIVE: 'Now is the time!' Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant push Tennessee lawmakers, governor for action on gun violence newschannel5.com/news/newschann…

HAPPENING NOW IN NASHVILLE… human chain from Vandy Children’s Hospital to the Capitol in support of gun safety legislation…

Protesters demanding common sense gun laws are forming a human chain along West End from the Vanderbilt Children’s hospital to the state Capitol.

Mike Luckovich, AJC.com mike luckovich #MoreGuns

Sen. Jeff @Yarbro introduced the Senate’s “last chance” to enact gun safety reform before session adjourns. With Covenant School parents watching, Republicans would not even debate his protection order bill. Shameful. #CovenantSchool #StopGunViolence #EnoughIsEnough

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton told reporters this afternoon he expects GOP Governor Bill Lee will call for a special legislative session on gun reform. Donald Trump won this state by 23 points in 2020. Just days ago, this would’ve been unimaginable.

NEW: Tennessee becomes the first state in US history to have a governor call a special legislative session devoted to gun reform.

CONNECT THE DOTS: As school privatizers “TN Federation For Children” advertise to grab $8200 per VOUCHER from public schools— their director was a founding board member of KingsAcademyNashville, a private Christian school started by Gov. Bill Lee’s COS Joseph Williams & his wife.

"Call that special session, Bill Lee. Whatever your party’s legislators might try to argue, an astonishing 82 percent of Tennesseans have your back." Margaret Renkl nytimes.com/2023/05/08/opi…

If America defaults on its debt, our economy would fall into recession and our nation's global reputation would be damaged. MAGA House Republicans should stop playing brinkmanship with the full faith and credit of the United States. It's a manufactured crisis.

Book bans increased to an all-time high in 2022, after escalating for 18 months. Here's a visual representation of the proliferation of bans.edweek.org/teaching-learn…