Key takeaways:
- Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones was reinstated this week after being expelled from the House of Representatives for protesting gun violence.
- Jones’ protest was sparked by a mass shooting at a Nashville school last month that killed six people.
- Jones vowed to continue fighting for stricter gun laws after his reinstatement and has since garnered national attention for his efforts to bring attention to the issue of gun violence.
Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones was reinstated this week after being expelled from the House of Representatives for protesting gun violence. Jones, 27, was one of two Black lawmakers to be expelled last week for violating decorum laws by protesting on the state House floor.
The protest was sparked by a mass shooting at a Nashville school last month that killed six people. Jones and two other Democratic lawmakers — Reps. Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson — led protesters in a chant of “power to the people” in the chamber during the demonstration.
In a passionate speech on the House floor when he was expelled, Jones referenced the students who motivated his and fellow Democrats’ call for action on guns after the Nashville school massacre.
“It was students walking out of classes and taking to this Capitol that led us into the well that day, calling for common sense gun laws,” Jones said.
Jones, who assumed office in 2022, vowed to continue fighting for stricter gun laws after his reinstatement. He has since garnered national attention for his efforts to bring attention to the issue of gun violence.
“I am proud to be back in the House and will continue to fight for the safety of our students and our communities,” Jones said.
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