A second Tennessee House Democrat has been reinstated after Republicans ousted him for protesting gun control supporters.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 Wednesday to reinstate Rep. Justin Pearson, who the day before was expelled by the supermajority of the GOP to join the protesters – many children – who chanted in the House chamber in support of gun control after the school shooting that left three children and three adults dead last. month.
After it was restored, the crowd in the Regency Administration Building erupted in cheers and applause. In his speech after his comeback, Pearson said it was time to get back to work.
“You can’t take away our voice, and you sure can’t take away our fight,” the crowd said.
“Let’s get back to work!” shouting, cheering.
Pearson and fellow Democrat Justin Jones were expelled for protesting March 30 in the House chamber, which Republican lawmakers called “disrespectful behavior” that “brings contempt to the House of Representatives.” A third lawmaker who joined the protest for gun control, Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, was not expelled by a single vote.
Pearson and Jones are Black; Johnson is white. Jones and Johnson joined Pearson on Wednesday to the County Administration Building.
“I’m so glad Memphis did the right thing,” Johnson told local station WREG after the vote. “I’m really happy.”
“Justice has been served today,” he added.
George Walker IV / Associated Press
Pearson is part of Memphis, which is in Shelby County. Mickell Lowery, chairman of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement Sunday that Pearson’s eviction “was carried out quickly.”
“Protests at the State Capitol by citizens recently affected by the senseless deaths of three 9-year-old children and three adults entrusted to their care at the school are understandable given the fact that gun laws in the State of Tennessee have been deteriorating for a long time. None, ” said Lowery.
“It’s also understandable that the leadership of the State House of Representatives feels a strong message needs to be sent to those who break the rules,” Lowery said. “However, I believe the ouster of State Representative Justin Pearson was rushed without consideration of other corrective actions. I also believe the consequences for our great State are yet to be seen.
Jones, who represents parts of Nashville, was re-elected to the office Monday by the Nashville Metropolitan Council in a 36-0 vote. Nashville Mayor John Cooper (D) said it’s about giving voters “a voice back.”
“Voters in the 52nd District voted for Justin Jones to be a voice in the statehouse, and that voice was taken away last week,” Cooper said during a rally to reinstate Jones. “So let’s get the vote back. I’m asking this body to vote unanimously, now, to do this.
Along with the two lawmakers reinstated this week, another surprising victory emerged: On Tuesday, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order to tighten background checks and ask the state legislature to pass “red flag” legislation that would make it easier . to remove guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.
During the deportation hearing, Pearson reminded lawmakers that the US was founded on protest.
“You who celebrate the 4th of July 1776, pop fireworks and eat hot dogs – you say protest is wrong because you speak out of turn, because you speak for the marginalized, because you speak for children who will never speak again. … in a country built on people who speak out of turn,” he said.