NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Monday, Republican lawmakers voted to temporarily silence Rep. Justin Jones, one of the few Black members in the state Legislature of the so-called “Tennessee Three.”

The move was made during a special session on the already-tense House floor session debating controversial gun laws that Republicans have largely ignored.

The Tennessee Republicans silenced Jones, claiming he violated newly-enacted rules established to punish “disruptive” members.

The crowd erupted after it was announced on the floor that Jones was being silenced for the alleged violation of the new rules.

More about the Tennessee GOP’s silence and history of the “Tennessee Three” can be found here.