On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise visit to Nashville to advocate for gun control and meet with two Tennessee Democrats expelled from the General Assembly who protested for gun reform on the floor of the statehouse. The convocation was scheduled hastily after the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel Nashville's Rep. Justin Jones and Memphis's Rep. Justin Pearson on Thursday, moves that drew criticism from President Joe Biden and sparked a national uproar over gun control and racial justice. The two black lawmakers were penalized by Republicans for leading protests, along with a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who escaped expulsion by one vote. Harris intended to meet with the state Legislature's Democratic caucus, including Jones, Pearson and Johnson, as well as young people who led protests at the Tennessee Capitol. The vice presidency aimed to raise "the voices" of thousands of young voters who have led demonstrations demanding changes in gun laws but have not influenced the Republican-majority state. The vice president called on Congress to pass a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.