Topline
A Tennessee county will vote Wednesday on whether to reappoint Justin Pearson—a Memphis native and environmental activist—as a representative to the state House following his expulsion from the body last week, though there are concerns the state legislature could retaliate if Pearson is reinstated.
Rep. Justin Pearson was removed from the Tennessee House last week.
Key Facts
The Shelby County Board of Commission will vote Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to fill Pearson’s vacant seat in the Tennessee House, according to Chairman Mickell Lowery, who said he believed Pearson’s expulsion was “conducted in a hasty manner without consideration” of other consequences.
Though four of the county’s 13 commissioners have indicated they would vote to reappoint Pearson, one commissioner said they would vote against his reappointment over fears the state would retaliate by pulling money from its budget intended to fund renovations to a trauma medical center.
Prior to serving in the statehouse, Pearson co-founded Memphis Community Against Pollution in 2020, an environmental activist group that fought against the construction of an oil pipeline that would have passed through low-income Black neighborhoods in south Memphis.
The group—which drew support from former Vice President Al Gore—argued the pipeline would contaminate the city’s drinking water, as Pearson Plains All American, the company that wanted to build the pipeline, subsequently canceled the project.
Pearson also advocated for new police reforms in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death in Memphis earlier this year, including legislation that would prevent police officers with criminal records from transferring between departments.
Surprising Fact
Pearson was condemned by House Republicans after he decided to wear a black dashiki—a pullover associated with West African culture—during his swearing-in ceremony in February. Republicans argued Pearson had violated the state legislature’s rules for decorum and dress attire and said if Pearson didn’t “like rules, perhaps you should explore a different career opportunity that’s main purpose is not creating them.”
Crucial Quote
Pearson said he “didn’t know” he would become an environmental activist prior to the pandemic, noting he is now “fighting every day” for his nephews and niece to live in a world that is “more than just one they’re currently enduring as Black children.”
Key Background
Tennessee’s GOP-controlled House voted last week to expel two Democratic members over their participation in a gun reform protest at the statehouse the week prior. A two-thirds majority voted to expel Reps. Justin Jones and Pearson, while a vote to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson fell one vote short. Johnson, who is white, told reporters she believed the difference in the vote count “might have to do with the color of our skin.” The expulsion votes have been condemned by a number of major democrats, including President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama, who said the votes were a “sign of weakness.” In a statement, Tennessee House Republicans said the expulsion votes were “the only path forward” because Jones and Pearson participated in “disrespectful and deliberate efforts to disrupt the business of the House.” Nashville’s Metropolitan Council voted unanimously Monday to reinstate Jones, as council member Delishia Porterfield called the House’s vote a “miscarriage of justice and an egregious assault on democracy.”
Further Reading
Nashville Board Reappoints Justin Jones To Tennessee State House After Expulsion (Forbes)
Tennessee House Expels 2 Democrats Over Gun Reform Protest (Forbes)
Democrats, Including Biden And Obama, Condemn Expulsion Of Tennessee Democrats: ‘Embarrassing Stain’ On Democracy (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/04/11/justin-pearson-could-rejoin-tennessee-state-house-this-week-after-expulsion-joining-justin-jones-heres-what-to-know/