Videos have resurfaced of a 2019 protest at the Tennessee
State Capitol, showing Aftyn Behn—now a Democratic congressional candidate for
the state—being dragged from a government office while screaming and crying.
The footage shows the moment security officers removed her from the office of
Republican Governor Bill Lee, where a group of protesters had staged an act of
civil disobedience.
Behn was participating in a protest organized by the
activist group Enough Is Enough Tennessee, comprised mainly of women demanding
stricter measures in response to allegations of sexual misconduct within the
state's political sphere. As part of the mobilization, the protesters staged a
sit-in at the capitol and requested a meeting with Governor Lee to reiterate
their demand for the removal of then-Republican state representative David
Byrd, who was facing accusations of sexual misconduct.
According to a report published by The Daily Caller, the
group refused to leave the building after being instructed by authorities,
prompting officers to enter and physically remove the participants. In the
resurfaced footage, Behn appears to be resisting as she is escorted out of the
area, reigniting public interest in the incident, which occurred during a
period of intense debate about ethical standards and accountability in public
office.
The 2019 protest was part of a series of actions spearheaded
by local organizations demanding greater transparency and stronger mechanisms
for addressing allegations of sexual misconduct in state politics. With the
recent circulation of the videos, the incident has once again come under
scrutiny in the context of Behn's current campaign.