Shelby County Board Reinstates Expelled Justin J. Pearson to Seat in Tennessee House District 86

In a stunning turn of events, Justin J. Pearson has been reinstated to his seat in the Tennessee House District 86 by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, less than a week after being expelled. The board's 7-0 vote to reinstate Pearson came amidst a political battle that ignited accusations of racism and toxic partisanship. Pearson, who represents Memphis, was expelled alongside Rep. Justin Jones, both Black Democrats, after they broke procedural rules to lead a protest from the House floor calling for gun law reforms.
Republican House members, largely white and male, employed a disciplinary tool little used since the 1800s to expel Pearson and Jones, while sparing Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white. Johnson raised concerns about the differential treatment, stating "It might have to do with the color of our skin." Pearson's reinstatement highlights the hasty and unfortunate outcome of the expulsion and the need to ensure that the people of District 86 are represented by the person they overwhelmingly voted for, according to Commission Chairman Mickell M. Lowery.
Pearson's statement after the vote reflects the importance of his return to the legislature to represent his constituents. "This is the Democracy that is going to lift up the victims of gun violence instead of supporting the NRA and the gun lobbyists," he told reporters. Pearson and Jones, who are returning to the legislature on an interim basis, can both run in a special election to regain their seats until the next general election in 2024.
Pearson's fight for gun law reforms in the wake of the Covenant elementary school shooting in Nashville has given him and Jones high profiles, making them future political stars nationally, according to political analyst Otis Sanford. Pearson's reinstatement shows the power of democracy and the importance of standing up for what is right. As Shelby County Board's Chairman Lowery said, "It's important that the people of District 86 are represented by the person that they voted overwhelmingly to have in the office."
In the wake of accusations of racism and toxic partisanship in Tennessee's legislature, the reinstatement of Justin J. Pearson to his seat representing Tennessee House District 86 is a much-needed step in the right direction. Less than a week after Pearson and another Black Democrat, Rep. Justin Jones, were expelled from the House after leading a protest calling for gun law reforms, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners decided to reinstate Pearson in a 7-0 vote. Subscribe for more content like this.
The reinstatement comes as a result of Chairman Mickell M. Lowery of the commission's resolution to reinstate Pearson, who had received overwhelming support from the people of District 86. In an interview, Lowery stressed the importance of having the people's chosen representative in office.
Wednesday afternoon, Pearson led a march from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis to the Shelby County Commission building, rallying the attendees to "show me what Democracy looks like." He added, "This is the Democracy that is going to transform a broken nation and a broken state into the place that God calls for it to be," while also criticizing the NRA and gun lobbyists.
The expulsions of Pearson and Jones have put a spotlight on race in Tennessee, with Republican House members, mostly white and male, employing a disciplinary tool little used since the 1800s to punish the two Black Democrats for leading the protest. Meanwhile, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, was spared the same punishment despite also breaking procedural rules to lead the protest.