Tennesseans rally for reinstatement of Rep. Justin Jones in Nashville
Published April 10, 2023; 1:36 p.m.

National Organizers Join Local Community, Faith and
Elected Officials To Support Expelled Representatives and
“The Tennessee Three”

NASHVILLE -- Following the unprecedented expulsion of Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from the Tennessee State House of Representatives last week, concerned citizens from across the state will come together Monday afternoon in Nashville for the first remedial action. Buoyed by a wave of national attention and bolstered on the ground by national organizers, Tennesseans will join together to demand Justin Jones’ reinstatement be approved by Nashville Metro Council so he can continue serving as the duly-elected Representative of the 52nd District in the TN legislature.

A rally at Metro Nashville Courthouse will kick off the action with thousands of local students and teachers, faith, community and elected leaders, and national supporters, followed by a march to the State Capitol for the Special Session, and a closing rally at People’s Plaza with media availabilities.

Tennesseans will rally at Metro Nashville Courthouse then march to TN State Capitol where they will rally at People’s Plaza. They will rally at 3:30 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. they will be at the Metro Council session and rally again from 6-8 p.m. The rally will take place at 1 Public Square.

Among those rallying are Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship, Equity Alliance Fund, TIRRC Votes, Faith For Black Lives, March For Our Lives, National Bar Association NAACP, Indivisible Tennessee, Woke Vote, Until Freedom and many more.

Tequila Johnson from The Equity Alliance Fund said:

The egregious expulsions of Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson are clear demonstrations of the disrespectful, vile, and anti-democratic mentality that Tennessee legislators aim to normalize daily. At a time when authentic compassion for constituents, swift action to serve the People, and common sense legislation to protect all Tennesseans are all needed, the House of Representatives has failed. We implore everyone who cares about democracy and public safety - especially for children, to unite for the reinstatement of these proven leaders and legislative advocates.

Lisa-Sherman Nikolas from TIRRC Votes stated:

Let me be clear, the expulsion of Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson is white supremacy at work. And part of the violence of white supremacy is that even in the midst of injustice, Black and brown people are expected to operate by its rules and norms. But we say no more! Our children, our communities, and our people need bold action. Today’s reinstatement of Rep. Justin Jones by the Nashville Metro Council to his District 52 seat, which he was duly elected to represent, is the first step. We’ve seen the fragility of our democracy this last week, and we’ve also seen the strength of young people across the state. The South has a deep history of organizing, and we aren’t letting up anytime soon. We will continue striving toward a powerful multiracial, multiethnic, multigenerational coalition to build a state that works for all of us.

Ray Holloman, a community member from Sumner County, emphasized:

Last Thursday, we saw white supremacy in action with Representative Justin Jones and Justin Pearson expelled from the House. This has brought so many people and groups to work together to demand the reinstatement of these representatives so that they can continue the work they were elected to do by the people of Tennessee. This has been yet another attack on the black and brown people of this state by trying to systematically eliminate their voices wherever possible. The people have shown that we will not continue to allow our state to be ruled by these few and that we will take our state back. Whether it be gun control or anti-trans bills, the youth are showing up and showing out that this is not the Tennessee they want to have given them, and they are using their voice.

The youth are telling us what they want, starting with the reinstatement of Rep. Justin Jones to the seat he was elected to by the people. They want a change from the ways of white patriarchial supremacy to a state and world that works for all people to live and thrive. These last few weeks have activated Generation Z and Alpha to take up speaking out for the change they want to see.

The following is a statement from Nathan Higdon from Indivisible Tennessee:

For far too long, Black legislators have been subjected to respectability, Jim Crow politics in a way that White legislators are not. Last week laid bare for the planet to see the blatant racism of the Tennessee House Republicans. What started as an attempt to subjugate Justin Jones and Justin Pearson became a rallying call to the next generation of activists and leaders who came forward chanting, "Enough is Enough." The reinstatement of representation to District 52 with Justin Jones today is the first step in justice. Together, we will build the Tennessee that we were ALL promised.