Advocacy Group Calls on Speaker Sexton to Resign

Group cites online petition with 18,000 signatures

A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is calling on Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to resign in the wake of what they say is a power grab as he and his allies moved to expel three lawmakers for protesting gun violence in the state.

“Because in a democracy, elected officials should serve the community, the community does not serve them, I join the call for Speaker Cameron Sexton to resign,” said the Rev. Dr. Donna Whitney, Pastoral Assistant of Metropolitan Interdenominational Church of Nashville. “Not only did Speaker Sexton lead the anti-democratic power grab that expelled two duly elected representatives from their seats in the State House to intentionally distract the people from their failure to pass policy to protect our children, but he has also been championing a Christian Nationalist agenda. It's past time for elected leaders in Tennessee to stop their anti-democratic distractions and focus on ways they can care for and serve the people. One way to do this is by committing to and passing common sense gun reform. The first step is the resignation of Speaker Sexton.”

The group cited an online petition with thousands of signatures calling for Sexton's resignation.

“Speaker Sexton has pursued political stunts and a Christian Nationalist agenda that takes away our freedoms and silences the people based on what we look like, where we live, or what we believe in an attempt to distract the people from his failure to pass policy to protect our children,” said Rev. Aaron Marble, Pastor of Jefferson St. Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville. “It's time for Speaker Sexton to resign and for Tennessee's elected leaders to end their assault on democracy and the First Amendment and finally focus on the needs of the people as they call for common sense gun reform, Medicaid expansion and fully-funded public schools. Our elected leaders must work to pass laws that promote justice and peace, which is why I'm grateful for the voices of Representatives Jones and Pearson and the local officials who sent them back to Nashville.”

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