Tennessee Democrats Justin Pearson and Justin Jones Reclaim Legislative Seats After Peaceful Gun Protest

Two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Pearson of Memphis and Justin Jones of Nashville, have won back their legislative seats in the Tennessee House in a Thursday special election. The landslide victories come almost three months after Pearson and Jones were expelled by Tennessee Republicans for participating in a peaceful gun protest on the House floor.

The protest was held on March 30th, with hundreds of protesters ― many of them kids ― taking to the House floor to call for an end to gun violence, along with Pearson, Jones, and another Democrat, state Rep. Gloria Johnson. The protest was held in response to a Nashville school shooting that left three children and three adults dead.

In April, resolutions to expel the three members were passed by the GOP-controlled House. However, the lawmakers were reinstated days later on an interim basis.

Jones celebrated the victory with a tweet, noting the pair will be back in the state House when a special session to discuss potential changes to the state’s gun control laws begins later this month. “See you August 21st for special session,” he wrote.

The special election results are a victory for the two young, Black Democrats, and a sign of the importance of gun control reform in Tennessee. The state House will now have a chance to discuss potential changes to the state’s gun control laws, and the two lawmakers will be present to ensure their constituents’ voices are heard.