Justin Pearson, the second oftwo young Black lawmakers expelled from Tennessee’s House of Representativesfor protesting gun violence last week, has been reappointed.
CNN reports that 29-year-old Pearson will fill the House District 86 seat as an interim representative.
He continued: “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. Continuing to advocate. Until justice rolls down like water. And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Let’s get back to work.”
Justin Pearson.AP Photo/Adrian Sainz
Laura Thompson/Shutterstock
Expulsion from the House requires a two-thirds majority vote, which Pearson and Jones both received — at 69-26 for Pearson, 72-25 for Jones,CNNreported. Johnson’s vote count was 65-30, turning up one vote short to kick her out of office.
It’s a move that has only happened three times since the Civil War, and sparked criticism across the nation, with many speaking out against the decision on social media.
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PresidentJoe Bidencalled the expulsion “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent” in a statement, adding: “Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee.”
source: people.com
