Justin Pearson Reinstated To Tennessee State House

Topline

A Tennessee county voted Wednesday to reinstate Justin Pearson as its representative to the state House, after both he and Rep. Justin Jones—who was also reappointed—were expelled from the body after participating in a protest for gun reform in the statehouse.

Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson was reinstated to the state House Wednesday.

Key Facts

The Shelby County Board of Commission unanimously voted to reinstate Pearson to the Tennessee House, after none of its Republican members attended the vote.

Chairman Mickell Lowery indicated he would vote to reinstate Pearson earlier in the week and said he believed Pearson’s expulsion was “conducted in a hasty manner without consideration.”

One commissioner noted they would vote against Pearson’s reinstatement over fears the state would retaliate by pulling money from its budget intended to fund renovations to a trauma medical center.

The vote follows a unanimous vote earlier this week by Nashville’s Metropolitan Council to reinstate Jones, after council member Delishia Porterfield called the House’s vote to expel Jones and Pearson a “miscarriage of justice and an egregious assault on democracy.”

What To Watch For

Special elections will be held later this year for both Jones’ and Pearson’s seats.

Surprising Fact

Pearson’s expulsion from the Tennessee legislature was not the first time he faced criticism from House Republicans. Republicans condemned Pearson and argued he violated the state legislature’s rules for decorum and dress attire after he decided to wear a black dashiki—a pullover associated with West African culture—during his swearing-in ceremony in February.

Key Background

Pearson, a Memphis native and environmental activist, was expelled last week by Tennessee’s GOP-controlled House over his and Jones’ participation in a gun reform protest at the statehouse the week prior. The expulsion votes were criticized by several major Democrats, including President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama. Tennessee House Republicans argued the expulsion votes were “the only path forward” because Jones and Pearson had participated in “disrespectful and deliberate efforts to disrupt the business of the House.”

Tangent

Pearson wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times Wednesday that was “hoping” to be reinstated to the Tennessee House. Pearson condemned House Republicans—who have “done little” in the wake of the Covenant School shooting last month—for their vote to expel him and Jones. He suggested there was “something amiss in the decorum of the State House” by allowing Rep. Paul Sherrell to “feel comfortable berating” him and Jones after Sherell proposed “death from ‘hanging by a tree’ as an acceptable form of state execution.” He also applauded a “small victory” after Gov. Bill Lee (R) announced yesterday he would sign an executive order to strengthen background checks for buying firearms and called for Republicans to support a red flag law.