The expulsions of two Democratic lawmakers last week may not last long after all.
Wednesday afternoon members of the Shelby County Commission unanimously voted to reappoint Representative Justin J. Pearson. That vote followed a Metro Council move to reappoint Representative Justin Jones to his Nashville seat.
Both Democrats along with Knoxville Representative Gloria Johnson faced expulsion from the Tennessee House of Representatives for protesting in chamber during recess.
House members voted to expel both Jones and Pearson last week while Johnson was narrowly spared by one vote.
“I want to remind us on this House floor that the reason we have rules, honoring our rules in our constitution is that if we don’t then whoever can yell the loudest, whoever can build the biggest mob—whether it’s on the right or the left or middle, that’s what rules,” said Representative Jeremy Faison shortly before the resolutions were presented. “We have 99 right here in the house to speak on behalf of the people and we follow the rules of decorum.”
Vocal Support in Memphis and Nashville
Representatives Jones and Johnson traveled to Memphis to be with Pearson during Wednesday’s vote.
The three addressed demonstrators and thanked them for the continued support.
“We need to lift up these amazing voices of these young people. We need a multiracial, multi-generational organization to the Tennessee legislature and these young voices are critical,” said Representative Johnson.
The so-called Tennessee Three marched with demonstrators to the administration building where Shelby County Commissioners voted Pearson in as an interim representative.
“I just want to commend you for your effort. I want to commend you for your commitment. I want to commend you for standing up for the things that matter to the people of Shelby County and the state of Tennessee. You have done well by us and making sure that our voices can be heard,” said Commissioner Shante K. Avant.
“Nashville thought they could silence democracy, but they didn’t know that the Shelby County Commission was filled with some courageous leaders who their threats of not giving us resources wouldn’t stop,” said Representative Pearson. “And so the message for all the people in Nashville who decided to expel us, you can’t expel hope. You can’t expel justice. You can’t expel our voice and you sure can’t expel our fight!”
The scene in Memphis mirrored the scene in Nashville Monday when Metro Council Members voted to reappoint Jones to his district 52 House seat.
Demonstrators gathered on the steps of the capitol building in Legislative Plaza an hour before the Metro Council vote.
Jones’ former opponent Jones Councilwoman Delisha Porter nominated him for reappointment. Representative Jones was the only nominee in the unanimous vote.
“On Thursday, April the 6th, we witnessed a miscarriage of justice and an egregious assault on our democracy which resulted in 70,000 Davidson County voters being silenced. This is not the first attempt of the state attempting to silence the people,” said Councilwoman Porter. “With this vote to reinstate Representative Jones, we are restoring the political voice of the 70,000 people of District 52.”
An hour later Jones was sworn in on the steps of the Capitol building, surrounded by supporters that he later addressed.
“There comes a time when time itself is ready for a change and the world is watching because that time has come to Nashville and Tennessee. And so, we are going to continue to organize and rise up in the state because today is just the beginning,” said Representative Jones.
