Rep. Steve Cohen announces he will not seek reelection after Tennessee’s GOP-led redistricting splits his Memphis district, a move he says dilutes Black voting power. Cohen may reconsider if legal challenges to the new map succeed.
Posts tagged as “Justin Pearson”
Two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, have won back their legislative seats in the Tennessee House after being expelled in April for participating in a peaceful gun protest. The protest was held in response to a Nashville school shooting, and the pair will be present for the upcoming special session to discuss potential changes to the state's gun control laws. Their victory is a sign of the importance of gun control reform in Tennessee.
President Joe Biden welcomed three Tennessee lawmakers to the Oval Office to thank them for their courage in facing expulsion for participating in gun control protests. Vice President Kamala Harris was also present, and Biden described the expulsion votes as “shocking” and “undemocratic.” The Tennessee Three have become symbols of the fight for gun reform, and their meeting with Biden is seen as a sign of his commitment to the issue.
Tennessee House Republicans are facing internal strife after voting to expel two Black Democratic representatives, but sparing an older white woman for protesting lax gun laws. An audio recording reveals Republican lawmakers aggressively confronting their caucus members who voted against Johnson's expulsion, leading to accusations of racism and drawing national attention to the GOP-led House. The expulsion votes have sparked concerns about the party's chances in the 2022 elections and highlighted the need for increased diversity in the state's legislature.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to return expelled Tennessee Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson back to the state House on Wednesday. The confirmation of Pearson's reappointment was met with cheers and applause from the crowd, and support from both sides of the aisle. Pearson expressed his gratitude for the support he has received, and his return to the House of Representatives is a victory for gun reform advocates in the state of Tennessee.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Justin Pearson and Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives, after the legislature had voted to expel them for participating in a protest against gun violence. The two lawmakers have vowed to continue their fight for gun reform, and their reinstatement is a reminder that the people's voices cannot be silenced.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reinstate state Rep. Justin Pearson, who was expelled by the GOP supermajority for joining gun control protesters after a school shooting. The vote was met with cheers and applause from a packed crowd, and Pearson said "You can't expel our voice, and you sure can't expel our fight." Pearson and fellow Tennessee House Democrat Justin Jones were both reinstated, a victory for gun control advocates who have been pushing for stricter gun laws.
Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones was reinstated this week after being expelled from the House of Representatives for protesting gun violence in response to a school shooting in Nashville. His reinstatement has garnered national attention, and he has vowed to continue fighting for stricter gun laws. Jones referenced the students who motivated his and fellow Democrats’ call for action on guns when he was expelled, saying “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.”