Politics

Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones reinstated after explusion

Nashville city council has reinstated Justin Jones, one of two lawmakers who were expelled for leading a gun control protest last month.

Published

2 years ago

April 11, 2023

Unheard Voices Staff

Rep. Justin Jones (Photo: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=h52)

Nashville city council has voted to reinstate Justin Jones, one of two lawmakers who were expelled for leading a gun control protest last month.

Table of Contents

Justin Jones reinstated three days after being expelled

The council voted unanimously 36-0 to return Justin Jones to the legislature on Monday, 10 April during a special session.

Republican colleagues ousted Jones along with his Memphis lawmaker Justin Pearson.

The rare expulsion vote came just days after a school shooting in Nashville that left six dead.

Jones was sworn in on the steps of the state capitol on Monday evening.

“I want to welcome democracy back to the people’s house,” he said after returning to his old desk inside the building.

“Truth crushed to the ground will rise again,” he said, adding: “No injustice attack on democracy will happen unchallenged.”

Justin Pearson’s fate will be decided Wednesday

A Memphis board of commissioners is expected to vote Wednesday on whether Pearson will be reinstated to his seat as a temporary representative.

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Unheard Voices Staff

Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to broadening into a recognized Black online media outlet. The company is one of the few outlets dedicated to covering social justice issues. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.