In a rare move, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners has reinstated two Tennessee lawmakers, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, to their seats in the state legislature after they were expelled by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Pearson was reinstated on Wednesday with a 7-0 vote, while Jones was reinstated on Monday. Both lawmakers were expelled for leading a gun control protest on the chamber floor, an act that Republican members deemed “disorder and dishonour.”
The expulsions have sparked accusations of toxic partisanship and racism in the House. Johnson, a white Democratic lawmaker, narrowly survived an expulsion vote. She suggested that her survival may have had to do with the colour of her colleagues’ skin. Pearson and Jones are black.
The reinstated lawmakers will serve as interim members until special elections can be held, but both have announced plans to run for their seats again. The expulsions have drawn the attention of Democrats at the national level, with a group of Senate Democrats calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the expulsions for any violations of the United States Constitution or federal civil rights laws.
The move to reinstate the lawmakers has been celebrated as a victory for democracy by some, but it has also highlighted the need for more diversity in state legislatures. Political analyst Otis Sanford has suggested that the expulsions may encourage young people in Tennessee to become more involved in their state’s politics, and that the lawmakers who were expelled may have bright futures.
As for Pearson and Jones, they have both vowed to continue fighting for their constituents. Pearson led a march on Wednesday, starting at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, and told supporters, “You can’t expel hope. You can’t expel justice. You can’t expel our voice. And you sure can’t expel our fight.” The reinstated lawmakers have also been praised for their commitment to gun reform and for standing up to the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun lobbyists.
Overall, the reinstatement of Pearson and Jones is a hopeful sign in a political climate that has become increasingly divisive and polarized. It is a reminder that democracy is not just about the majority ruling over the minority, but about representing the diverse voices of a community. While the expulsions were a setback, the reinstatements show that democracy can be resilient and that the fight for justice and equality is far from over.
