Tennessee Dems Push To Bring Second Expelled Lawmaker Back to House

On Tuesday, Tennessee Democrats will advocate for the reinstatement of the second state representative who was expelled for leading a rule-breaking gun policy protest on the floor of the statehouse. This comes after the first lawmaker, Justin Jones, was reinstated on Monday by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. Jones celebrated his return to the state House of Representatives by pumping his fist and declaring “power to the people”.

Justin Pearson, Jones’ fellow young Black legislator who was expelled, may receive a similar vote for reinstatement on Wednesday, when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider reappointing him to his Memphis district. Pearson told supporters, “You might try and silence it. You might try and expel it. But the people’s power will not be stopped. This is what democracy looks like.”

Republican lawmakers expelled Jones and Pearson last week for breaking decorum. The dispute has garnered national attention and has become a rallying cry for Democrats on issues such as democracy, gun violence, and racial inequality.

A crowd of around 600 protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Council as it voted 36-0 to make Jones the interim representative. The vote triggered a celebration, with supporters shouting slogans like “Whose house? Our house!” and “No Justin, no peace”. Many followed Jones to the statehouse, surrounding him as he was sworn in on the steps and cheering as he reclaimed his seat.

Republican lawmakers have largely remained silent since the expulsion of Jones and Pearson. During the debate, they emphasized the severity of disrupting the normal course of business and drowning out representatives with differing views. Republicans still hold a 75-23 supermajority in Tennessee and have displayed little concern for reprisals from voters. Although they expelled Jones and Pearson, they failed to gain the two-thirds majority needed to expel Representative Gloria Johnson, a white woman who joined Jones and Pearson in the demonstration but did not break any rules.

The conflict over the legislators’ expulsion has highlighted issues of racial and political divisions, as well as brought attention to the often-controversial gun policies in Tennessee.

(Reporting by Sandra Stojanovic and Omar Younis; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)