The world’s eyes are on Tennessee in the wake of the expulsion of former Representatives Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson, and the narrow survival of Gloria Johnson Thursday evening.
Nicknamed the “Tennessee Three” after leading gun reform protesters to the chamber last Thursday following the Covenant School shooting, formal motions to expel the three democratic representatives were filed on Monday.
This was the first time members of the Tennessee House of Representatives have been ousted for breaching rules of decorum.
Each of the three were given twenty minutes to defend themselves. Afterwards, they were allowed to take questions or comments from members of the House. Members of the Democratic caucus were also able to ask their own questions and comments.
The decision was based on a two-third vote, meaning that 66 votes were needed to expel them.
Prior to the hearings, Representative Johnny Garrett and Speaker Cameron Sexton brought forth a video to show what happened last Thursday.
“What we’re doing today is seemingly, we’re selecting a video to be shown that’s gonna obviously show the harshest side where the emotions were inflamed and high,” said Representative Joe Towns, Jr. “Now that does not give these men and women a chance, an even chance, because you have those same feelings that you had then. It’s a done deal. It’s a stacked deal. It’s a done deal. That’s not fair.”
Representative Justin Jones
Former Representative Jones was first. His expulsion was filed by Kingsport Representative Bud Husley.
“Today we are brought to here where members are responding in the most extreme measure, not because of what we did, but because by breaking decorum we broke the glass of your false power for the world to see,” said former Representative Jones in his defense.
Justin Jones is a social activist in Nashville and a Fisk University graduate. In 2020, he was one of the major players in the Nashville Black Lives Matter protests and the main force behind the Nathan Forrest Bedford bust getting taken down in the capitol. He is the youngest lawmaker to serve on the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Jones’ hearing was filled with heated debate with various members of the Republican caucus demanding explanation for him and his actions on the chamber floor.
There was additional tension between Jones and Springfield Representative Sabi “Doc” Kumar, the only Indian member of the House and Republican caucus, who opposed Jones’ previous comments on his role as a legislator and said that Jones attacked Speaker Sexton during his defense.
“You look at everything through the lens of race. Those are your experiences and that’s perfectly understandable. But, sincerely, after becoming elected you should be celebrating. You really should be. You should join the house, become one of us, make the transformation from being a person who, yes we’ve known you demonstrating a lot, mobilizing the community, but make the transformation to be a representative,” said Representative Kumar.
Jones called the representative’s remarks “disappointing.”
“The statement and recommendation of Representative Kumar was that I would not be up for expulsion if I just assimilated, if I just conformed, if I just confined myself as he has done to be accepted by this body,” said former Representative Jones. “Me asserting the voice of my district is what he’s referring to. Me ensuring that rules are followed in committee and raising points of order and points of parliamentary inquiry when the chairman acts against the rules is what he is talking about. Me asserting the voice of 78,000 people of District 52, to him is an attack, to me is upholding my responsibility as a legislator.”
Members of the Democratic caucus came to Jones’ defense, however the debate to vote against Jones’ expulsion was cut short. Representative John Ray Clemmons vehemently objected and called the House “humiliating” and “embarrassing” for this action.
“We’re talking about nothing less than 75 people overruling the wishes of 78,000 people and you’re gonna cut off debate? Give me a break. Is this a circus? You are talking about kicking someone out of this body. Grow up! If you can’t sit through a conversation or a debate on something no less than expelling a colleague, grow up! Get out of here! You don’t belong here,” said Representative Clemmons.
Jones was expelled in a 72-25 vote. In his final moments before expulsion, the members of the caucus stood with him.
“This is a historic day in Tennessee, but it may mark a very dark day for Tennessee because it was signal to the nation that there is no democracy in this state. It was signal to the nation that if it can happen here in Tennessee, it’s coming to your state next,” said former Representative Jones.
Representative Gloria Johnson
Representative Gloria Johnson was next. Her expulsion was filed by Brentwood Representative Gino Bulso.
Gloria Johnson is a retired schoolteacher from Knox County and one of the only female representatives in the House, as well as one of the only female Democrats in the caucus. People from Knoxville came to Nashville to join the rally in support of her.
Former Representatives John Mark Windle and Mike Stewart came to her defense, saying that the reasons to expel Johnson were fraudulent.
“If the author of this document could come up here—I’ll yield the well—please explain to this woman and America why you committed a falsehood,” said Windle.
Bulso claimed that Johnson yelled and chanted on the floor. Johnson denied this claim and said she simply stood with her colleagues.
“My question, Representative, is this: do you agree that you were chanting?” asked Bulso.
Johnson talked about her experience in the House, saying how she was forced to use an office space the size of a closet during the start of COVID for a year. She also talked about her experience with a school shooting during her time as a teacher.
“I’m just going to bet none of you have been in a classroom, waiting for your class to come in, preparing your classroom, when you see a door open up at the cafeteria, children running down the hill—had an outdoor classroom—screaming, crying in terror. Kids I didn’t even know also ran into my classroom,” said Representative Johnson.
The debate between Bulso and Johnson carried on for about two hours where Bulso continued to ask about her actions in the well. Johnson asked that he stop putting words in her mouth.
“What is my crime, sir? You continue to ask this question. I think we’ve been through it over and over and over. I came to the well. I stood with my colleague. I fought for my constituents in a quiet, non-desk pounding, non-whatever it said about holding up signs. But I came here, and I stood. I did it for the kids in my district, for the kids in the state, for the kids in this community. And you are continually asking the same question, you’re gonna get the same answer,” said Johnson.
Like with Jones, members of the Democratic caucus came to Johnson’s defense, saying that she did not shout and that she stood in support of the protestors with Jones and Pearson.
“You know her campaign tag is ‘Standing Tall’ and that’s what she does. That’s kind of who she is. She’s not loud, she’s not long, but she stands,” said fellow Knoxville Representative Sam McKenzie.
Representative Johnson narrowly survived the two-third vote with 65-30, shocking the witnesses. The gallery erupted into cheers of “Gloria” when the results came in.
“We want action, our hearts compelled us to come up here for action, we need to allow people to speak for the 70,000 folks that send him here,” said Johnson before the vote. “So be careful about putting words in people’s mouths.”
Representative Justin J. Pearson
The final of the three was Justin J. Pearson, whose expulsion was filed by Sevierville Representative Andrew Farmer.
“We and you are seeking to expel District 86’s representation from this house in a country that was built on a protest. In a country that was built on a protest! You, who celebrate July 4, 1776, pop fireworks and eat hotdogs, you say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalized,” said former Representative Pearson in his defense.
Justin J. Pearson is an environmental activist from Memphis. He was sworn into office on the day of Covenant School shooting and is the second youngest lawmaker to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Family as well as community members from Memphis came to support him.
A heated debate took place between Pearson and Farmer. Farmer criticized Pearson’s protest, saying that he could have filed a piece of legislation if he wanted to see action for his cause. He also said that Pearson marching to the well was for attention.
“Just because you don’t get your way, you can’t come to the well, bring your friends, and throw a temper tantrum with an adolescent bullhorn. It doesn’t give you the right to enrage folks that are here to watch this body conduct business and talk about things you know good well, that we’ve worked hard, we’ve worked very hard to protect out children in the state of Tennessee,” said Representative Farmer.
Pearson criticized the way Pearson spoke to him and criticized Farmer calling the protest a “temper tantrum,” asking if the protests happening outside the chamber was a temper tantrum.
“The reason that I believe the sponsor of this legislation, this resolution spoke that way is because he’s comfortable doing it. Because there’s a decorum that allows it. There’s a decorum that allows you to belittle people, we didn’t belittle nobody,” said Pearson. “Is elevating out voices for justice and change a temper tantrum?”
Fellow Memphis Representative Torrey C. Harris talked about his experience in the House as another young black member in the House and said he and many others were often silenced during committee meetings.
“When I look at you, I see myself. If I’m unable to see you as my brother, it is my vision that is blurred,” said Representative Harris. “We have to find our place. So whereas you decided to go to the well to speak on behalf of people, thousands of people, because we had been silenced for long, that buildup happens.”
Pearson was expelled in a 69-29 vote with the entire Democratic caucus, including Gloria Johnson, standing with him. Before then, Harris told him that they’ll see him back.
“I don’t know how long this Saturday in the state of Tennessee might last, but oh we have good news folks. We’ve got good news folks! We’ve got good news folks that Sunday always comes, and Resurrection is upon is and it is a prophecy. It is a prophecy that came out of the cotton fields, it’s a prophecy that came out of the lynching tree. It’s a prophecy that still lives in each and every one of us in order to make the state of Tennessee the place it ought to be. And so I still got hope because I know we are still here, and we will never quit!” said former Representative Pearson in his closing minutes.
After the expulsion of Jones and Pearson, the three democrats gathered on the steps outside the capitol to address the protestors. Justin Jones said that he will be back on the steps of the capitol on Monday.
