Imagine a state legislature session grinding to a halt as a protester’s shouts echo through the chamber, demanding resignations over unproven allegations.
The Daily Caller reported that in May 2019, Aftyn Behn, now a Democratic candidate for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, was forcibly removed from the Tennessee state Legislature for disrupting proceedings with a heated outburst against then-Republican state Rep. David Byrd and former House Speaker Glen Casada.
This incident, resurfaced in footage posted by The Tennessee Holler, wasn’t just a one-off stunt but part of a broader protest tied to serious allegations against Byrd.
Behn, alongside three other activists from the group Enough is Enough, had been camping outside Byrd’s office, pressing for his resignation over claims of inappropriate behavior from years prior.
According to The Associated Press, two women accused Byrd of improper touching during his time as a basketball coach, while a third claimed he attempted to do so—allegations Byrd has consistently denied, with no charges ever filed.
Yet, for Behn and her allies, these unproven claims were enough to justify storming the legislative session with cries for accountability, a move that raises questions about due process over public shaming.
A month before the chamber incident, Behn had already clashed with security when she tried to access Gov. Bill Lee’s office to push for Byrd’s ouster, only to be escorted out of the building.
Her persistence culminated in that chaotic May 2019 session, where she unleashed a torrent of accusations, shouting, “I’m here today on behalf of communities that you have silenced today in this legislative session,” as captured in footage by The Tennessee Holler.
“You have been violent to our various communities this entire legislative session,” Behn continued, escalating her rhetoric before security intervened, citing her for the disruption and releasing her later that evening, per News Channel 5 Nashville.
While Behn’s actions in 2019 paint a picture of fiery activism, her broader commentary on Tennessee reveals a deep disdain for the state she now seeks to represent in Congress.
From calling Tennessee “godforsaken” in 2023 to labeling it “racist” and even claiming on the “Year Old GRITS” podcast in 2020 that she hated everything about Nashville, her words suggest a disconnect with the very constituents she aims to serve.
One might wonder how such strong rhetoric squares with a bid for public office—criticism is fair, but outright contempt for one’s home state feels like a tough sell, even to the most frustrated voter.
Behn’s campaign isn’t just defined by past protests; her policy views, like supporting taxpayer-funded surgeries for transgender minors, signal a progressive agenda that could clash with the values of many in Tennessee’s 7th District.
Add to that her assertion that college sororities are “a staple of white supremacy,” and it’s clear Behn isn’t shying away from controversial stances, even if they risk alienating a conservative-leaning electorate facing off against Republican Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner under Gov. Bill Lee.
While passion for justice is commendable, Behn’s track record of disruption and divisive rhetoric might leave voters questioning whether her approach prioritizes constructive dialogue or just loud confrontation.