The Tennessee legislature encountered a disruption as protesters demonstrated in the building to advocate for gun control.
Videos showed protesters disrupting the legislature chanting, “No action, no peace!”
Watch the video:
BREAKING: Left-wing protesters disrupt TN legislative session shouting "No action, no peace!"pic.twitter.com/xNfIbbZKBP
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) March 30, 2023
Tennessee statehouse reporter Andy Sher tweeted, “Students packing Tennessee Senate gallery today amid major protests over state gun laws following Monday’s shooting deaths of 3 students, 3 staffers at a Christian college in Nashville. Some are chanting “children are dead. Do you [care]?”
Students packing Tennessee Senate gallery today amid major protests over state gun laws following Monday’s shooting deaths of 3 students, 3 staffers at a Christian college in Nashville. Some are chanting “children are dead. Do you car?” pic.twitter.com/TyfpadFrfW
— Andy Sher (@AndySher1) March 30, 2023
Another video appeared to show state troopers blocking protestors in a separate portion of the building.
Journalist Kelsey Gibbs noted the protestors went through the security at the Capitol before entering the building.
“No one was arrested. This shoving started when THP needed to make way for lawmakers,” she added about a video of state troopers shoving protesters.
I deleted the last tweet because I wasn’t as clear. This was a peaceful protest. Students, parents and their supporters went through Capitol security to lobby for gun control in the Capitol. No one was arrested. This shoving started when THP needed to make way for lawmakers. pic.twitter.com/o4GApyKdt4
— Kelsey Gibbs (@kelseymgibbs) March 30, 2023
Several conservatives sought to compare the protest on Thursday to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro tweeted, “Guys, the media rule is that a protest at a government building that devolves into forcible trespass is only bad if it’s right-wingers doing it. If it involves teachers unions in Wisconsin in 2011 or gun control fanatics in Tennessee today, that’s called *heroism*.”
Guys, the media rule is that a protest at a government building that devolves into forcible trespass is only bad if it's right-wingers doing it. If it involves teachers unions in Wisconsin in 2011 or gun control fanatics in Tennessee today, that's called *heroism*.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 30, 2023
Chaya Raichik, the founder of the popular “Libs of TikTok” account, asked, “How many people have been arrested so far in Tennessee and Kentucky for storming their state’s Capitol and threatening our democracy?”
How many people have been arrested so far in Tennessee and Kentucky for storming their state’s Capitol and threatening our democracy?
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) March 30, 2023
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) shared a video from the demonstration and asked, “Will the Left call this an insurrection too?”
The current scene inside the Tennessee State Capitol building.
— Congressman Troy E. Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) March 30, 2023
Will the Left call this an insurrection too? https://t.co/bVKvvHKRf6
The protest comes days after a shooter opened fire in a Christian school in Nashville, killing three adults and three children.
