美国国家公共电台 NPR--Tennessee state House votes to expel 2 Democratic lawmakers after gun control protest

Tennessee state House votes to expel 2 Democratic lawmakers after gun control protest

Transcript²

The Tennessee state House on Thursday voted to expel two Democratic lawmakers for their participation³ in gun control protests last week on the chamber⁴ floor.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The Tennessee State House of Representatives is a little smaller today. The Republican-dominated legislature voted to throw out two Democrats⁵. They were among three who protested a mass shooting and called for gun control on the House floor there. The move for a violation⁶ of decorum was unusual and prompted chants of shame on you from critics.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you.

INSKEEP: Now, the Republican House speaker, Cameron Sexton, told reporters he needed to take this step to maintain order.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CAMERON SEXTON: I'm concerned about the House floor following the process and procedures that are laid out that you should follow and not having a protest, as it was described over here, on the House floor.

INSKEEP: Now, elsewhere, Sexton went further, comparing that protest on the House floor to the January 6 insurrection. He said it was equivalent, if not worse. Just a reminder⁷ that on January 6, 2021, thousands of people broke into the U.S. Capitol, caused a number of deaths, threatened to hang the vice⁸ president, ransacked⁹ offices and disrupted the ceremonial counting of a presidential election. In the Tennessee protest, three lawmakers talked out of turn.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

The two ousted¹⁰ lawmakers, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, are both Black. The only Democrat¹ who survived last night's vote was Gloria Johnson. She's white. Pearson addressed this last night. Here's a clip from MSNBC.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JUSTIN PEARSON: You cannot ignore the racial dynamic of what happened today. Two young, Black lawmakers get expelled, and the one white woman does not. That's a statement in and of itself.

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 ransacked   

v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺

参考例句：

• The house had been ransacked by burglars. 这房子遭到了盗贼的洗劫。
• The house had been ransacked of all that was worth anything. 屋子里所有值钱的东西都被抢去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。