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Justin Pearson becomes second expelled Tennessee lawmaker to be reinstated Justin Pearson becomes second expelled Tennessee lawmaker to be reinstated
(about 1 hour later)
A second Tennessee lawmaker, Justin Pearson, has been reinstated, after a unanimous vote from seven members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. The second of two Tennessee lawmakers expelled from the state legislature after leading a gun control protest on the chamber floor has been reinstated.
His colleague Justin Jones was reinstated to the Tennessee House of Representatives on Monday. Justin Pearson, 29, got his seat back after a unanimous vote from seven members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
The two Democrats were expelled from the house, controlled by Republicans, last week after a gun control protest. His colleague Justin Jones, 27, was similarly put back in the Tennessee House of Representatives on Monday.
The expulsion vote happened days after a school shooting in Nashville. The two Democrats were expelled last week by the Republican-run statehouse.
They were removed days after a school shooting in Nashville that left six people dead, including three children.
After Wednesday's vote, Mr Pearson addressed the crowd, saying: "You can't expel hope. You can't expel justice. You can't expel our voice. And you sure can't expel our fight. We look forward to continuing to fight."After Wednesday's vote, Mr Pearson addressed the crowd, saying: "You can't expel hope. You can't expel justice. You can't expel our voice. And you sure can't expel our fight. We look forward to continuing to fight."
Republican members had accused three Democrats, Mr Pearson, Mr Jones and State Rep. Gloria Johnson, of bringing "disorder and dishonour to the house" when they joined protesters at the statehouse on 30 March. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners, mostly made up of Democrats, sent the young legislator back to the statehouse to represent House District 86, which includes Memphis.
Ms Johnson, who is white, had also protested, but narrowly kept her seat in the House vote. "I think that it's important that the people of District 86 are represented by the person that they voted overwhelming to have in the office," said Shelby County Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery in an interview.
Republicans said the reason they did not expel Ms Johnson was because she played a smaller role the protest and did not use a megaphone. Before the vote, Mr Pearson led a march from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
He said to supporters: "This is the democracy that is going to lift up the victims of gun violence instead of supporting the NRA and the gun lobbyists."
Republican members had accused three Democrats, Mr Pearson, Mr Jones and Gloria Johnson, of bringing "disorder and dishonour" to the chamber when they led protesters at the statehouse on 30 March.
Ms Johnson narrowly survived an expulsion vote. Republicans said she played a smaller role the protest and did not use a megaphone.
Tennessee lawmaker reinstated days after expulsionTennessee lawmaker reinstated days after expulsion
What happens next in Tennessee? and other questionsWhat happens next in Tennessee? and other questions
Nashville Mayor John Cooper appeared at the council meeting on Monday for Mr Jones, where he told the chamber that their expulsion vote was "unprecedented". Nashville Mayor John Cooper appeared at the council meeting on Monday for Mr Jones, where he told the chamber their expulsion vote was "unprecedented".
"Let's give the district their voice back. I call this body to give them their voice back now," he said."Let's give the district their voice back. I call this body to give them their voice back now," he said.
Mr Jones and Mr Pearson between them represent about 140,000 constituents in the state.Mr Jones and Mr Pearson between them represent about 140,000 constituents in the state.
Several constituents told BBC News they felt disenfranchised by the vote to oust the pair, known as The Justins. Some constituents told BBC News they felt disenfranchised by the vote to oust the pair, known as the Justins.
President Joe Biden also criticised the move as "undemocratic".
The use of expulsion in Tennessee is very rare and had only been used twice since the Civil War - one time for a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip who was accused of sexual misconduct.The use of expulsion in Tennessee is very rare and had only been used twice since the Civil War - one time for a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip who was accused of sexual misconduct.
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US gun violence
NashvilleNashville
TennesseeTennessee
US politics
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