Two Tennessee legislators who gained national attention for their protest in support of gun control and subsequent expulsion from the legislature are seeking to regain their seats. Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, both young Black lawmakers, used bullhorns during a demonstration against gun control protesters in the legislative chamber. In order to fully rejoin the House, they must succeed in a special election after being reinstated on an interim basis by local officials. The President referred to them as part of the “Tennessee Three” and condemned their expulsion as an undemocratic attempt to silence duly elected representatives. State Rep. Gloria Johnson, the third member of the trio, narrowly avoided expulsion. She claims that race played a role in the decision, though Republicans deny this. Pearson and Jones easily won their primary election and now face opponents in the general election. Despite living in districts that heavily favor Democrats, they remain determined to send a clear message that their voices cannot be silenced. The protests were held in the wake of a shooting carried out by a transgender activist at a Nashville school. The motive behind the shooting remains largely unknown, and a presidential contender has urged authorities to release the shooter’s manifesto. The expulsions occurred following a demonstration where thousands of protesters gathered at the Capitol building to demand gun control measures. Pearson, Jones, and Johnson joined the protesters in chanting and calling for action, leading to their expulsion for violating House rules. The expulsions drew national support and generated significant campaign fundraising for Pearson and Jones, with over $2 million raised through 70,400 donations. In contrast, their Republican opponents received support from more than 15 lawmakers, but raised significantly less funds.
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