Tennessee state troopers stop Capitol breach by gun control protesters

More than one thousand protesters, most of whom appeared to be young people, appeared outside the building at attempted to enter it during a session of the legislature.

By Ben Whedon

Published: March 30, 2023 3:50pm

Updated: March 30, 2023 4:00pm

Tennessee State Troopers were forced to intervene during a demonstration by proponents of gun control outside of the Tennessee State Capitol on Thursday.

More than one thousand protesters, most of whom appeared to be young people, gathered outside the building and attempted to enter it during a session of the legislature, the Tennessee Star reported.

Video footage shows demonstrators attempting to enter the building while officers keep them out. In one instance, officers secure one individual and escort him away.

The reporter who took the video at the Tennessee state Capitol that I embedded deleted her original tweet.

Here is the video. pic.twitter.com/caqqlXKfPY

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 30, 2023

Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pierson, and Gloria Johnson all reportedly encouraged the episode, according to the Star. The trio of lawmakers reportedly stormed the well of the chamber and Jones began encouraging the protesters with a bullhorn.

The House then recessed and reconvened at a later time.

The demonstration comes in the immediate aftermath of a Nashville, Tenn., mass shooting in which a transgender individual killed three students and three faculty members at a Christian school that authorities say she once attended.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.