Make no mistake—America’s democracy is under attack.

The Tennessee legislature just voted out two of its duly-elected members because they had the audacity to break rules for decorum and protest on the House floor.

They were joining the chorus of protests happening in the rotunda, where thousands of amazing young people have been showing up to vocally and peacefully protest for gun reform.

All of this, of course, follows a mass shooting in a Nashville schoolhouse.

Expulsion of these members is unprecedented. No representative in the state has ever been removed for an “offense” of this nature (one that is not a crime, but rather a rules violation).

Republicans compared their peaceful protest to the Jan. 6th insurrection. There is no comparison.

This is a theft of democracy. It nullifies the votes of tens of thousands of people.

The two members voted out were young Black men, both Democrats. And both were newly elected in November, having only been sworn in four months ago.

They were voted out by a House that is majority white, male, and Republican.

Those same voters spared a third member who participated in their protest, a white woman who is also a Democrat. Rep. Gloria Johnson believes she was saved because of the color of her skin.

The racism is blatant. The threat to democracy is terrifying.