SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones (D-52) gestures to supporters during a vote on his expulsion from the state Legislature at the State Capitol Building on April 6, 2023 in Nashville.
(Photo: Seth Herald/Getty Images)
Countering 'Miscarriage of Justice,' Metro Nashville Council Reappoints Justin Jones
"Voters in District 52 elected Justin Jones to be their voice at the statehouse, and that voice was taken away this past week," said Nashville's mayor. "So let's give them their voice back."
Apr 10, 2023
Cheers erupted Monday evening after Nashville's Metropolitan Council unanimously reappointed Democratic Rep. Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives after Republicans expelled him from the chamber last week over a gun control protest.
In sharp contrast with the Republican-dominated House's 72-25 expulsion vote on Thursday, all 36 council members supported Jones reclaiming his seat representing District 52.
\u201c\ud83c\udf89\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681163206
Just before the "unprecedented" vote, Democratic Nashville Mayor John Cooper declared that "voters in District 52 elected Justin Jones to be their voice at the statehouse, and that voice was taken away this past week. So let's give them their voice back. I call on this body to vote unanimously, right now, to do just that."
Jones was the only candidate even considered. He was nominated by Delishia Porterfield, the Democratic council member for District 29, who called his expulsion a "miscarriage of justice."
Ahead of the Tennessee House's Monday night session, Jones marched with a police escort from City Hall to the state Capitol, where protesters chanted, "Welcome home!"
\u201cWATCH: \u201cThey didn\u2019t know we were seeds \u2014 there\u2019s a new south rising, and it begins here in Nashville.\u201d \n\n@brotherjones_ addresses the crowd there for his return to the house. #TennesseeThree\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681169743
As The Tennessean reports:
Jones took a bullhorn in his hands and began speaking.
"Today we sent a clear message to Speaker Cameron Sexton [R-25] that the people will not allow his crimes against democracy to happen without challenge," he said. "This is not about one person. It's not about one position. It's about a movement of people empowered to restore the soul of what this building should represent and that is democracy."
Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles led Jones in his oath on the steps of the Capitol as cheers erupted from the crowd. When he was done, he raised his fist into the air.
Along with Jones, Rep. Justin Pearson (D-86), a fellow young Black man, was expelled from the House last week. A third GOP expulsion resolution targeting Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-13), who is white, failed.
\u201cHere\u2019s the moment @brotherjones_ walked back onto the house floor arm in arm with @VoteGloriaJ, fist raised \u270a\ud83c\udffe\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681167969
As Jones returned to the chamber Monday evening, he walked with Johnson—one arm linked with hers, and the other raised, with his hand in a fist.
On January 20th, it begins...
Political revenge. Mass deportations. Project 2025. Unfathomable corruption. Attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Pardons for insurrectionists. An all-out assault on democracy. Republicans in Congress are scrambling to give Trump broad new powers to strip the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit he doesn’t like by declaring it a “terrorist-supporting organization.” Trump has already begun filing lawsuits against news outlets that criticize him. At Common Dreams, we won’t back down, but we must get ready for whatever Trump and his thugs throw at us. Our Year-End campaign is our most important fundraiser of the year. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. By donating today, please help us fight the dangers of a second Trump presidency. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
tennesseegloria johnsongun controljustin jonesjustin pearsonmetro nashville councilnashville#tennesseethree
Cheers erupted Monday evening after Nashville's Metropolitan Council unanimously reappointed Democratic Rep. Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives after Republicans expelled him from the chamber last week over a gun control protest.
In sharp contrast with the Republican-dominated House's 72-25 expulsion vote on Thursday, all 36 council members supported Jones reclaiming his seat representing District 52.
\u201c\ud83c\udf89\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681163206
Just before the "unprecedented" vote, Democratic Nashville Mayor John Cooper declared that "voters in District 52 elected Justin Jones to be their voice at the statehouse, and that voice was taken away this past week. So let's give them their voice back. I call on this body to vote unanimously, right now, to do just that."
Jones was the only candidate even considered. He was nominated by Delishia Porterfield, the Democratic council member for District 29, who called his expulsion a "miscarriage of justice."
Ahead of the Tennessee House's Monday night session, Jones marched with a police escort from City Hall to the state Capitol, where protesters chanted, "Welcome home!"
\u201cWATCH: \u201cThey didn\u2019t know we were seeds \u2014 there\u2019s a new south rising, and it begins here in Nashville.\u201d \n\n@brotherjones_ addresses the crowd there for his return to the house. #TennesseeThree\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681169743
As The Tennessean reports:
Jones took a bullhorn in his hands and began speaking.
"Today we sent a clear message to Speaker Cameron Sexton [R-25] that the people will not allow his crimes against democracy to happen without challenge," he said. "This is not about one person. It's not about one position. It's about a movement of people empowered to restore the soul of what this building should represent and that is democracy."
Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles led Jones in his oath on the steps of the Capitol as cheers erupted from the crowd. When he was done, he raised his fist into the air.
Along with Jones, Rep. Justin Pearson (D-86), a fellow young Black man, was expelled from the House last week. A third GOP expulsion resolution targeting Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-13), who is white, failed.
\u201cHere\u2019s the moment @brotherjones_ walked back onto the house floor arm in arm with @VoteGloriaJ, fist raised \u270a\ud83c\udffe\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681167969
As Jones returned to the chamber Monday evening, he walked with Johnson—one arm linked with hers, and the other raised, with his hand in a fist.
From Your Site Articles
- Jones Says He Will Fight 'Unconstitutional' Expulsion as Reinstatement Votes Loom ›
- 'A Very Dark Day for Tennessee': House GOP Expels Democrats Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Cheers erupted Monday evening after Nashville's Metropolitan Council unanimously reappointed Democratic Rep. Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives after Republicans expelled him from the chamber last week over a gun control protest.
In sharp contrast with the Republican-dominated House's 72-25 expulsion vote on Thursday, all 36 council members supported Jones reclaiming his seat representing District 52.
\u201c\ud83c\udf89\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681163206
Just before the "unprecedented" vote, Democratic Nashville Mayor John Cooper declared that "voters in District 52 elected Justin Jones to be their voice at the statehouse, and that voice was taken away this past week. So let's give them their voice back. I call on this body to vote unanimously, right now, to do just that."
Jones was the only candidate even considered. He was nominated by Delishia Porterfield, the Democratic council member for District 29, who called his expulsion a "miscarriage of justice."
Ahead of the Tennessee House's Monday night session, Jones marched with a police escort from City Hall to the state Capitol, where protesters chanted, "Welcome home!"
\u201cWATCH: \u201cThey didn\u2019t know we were seeds \u2014 there\u2019s a new south rising, and it begins here in Nashville.\u201d \n\n@brotherjones_ addresses the crowd there for his return to the house. #TennesseeThree\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681169743
As The Tennessean reports:
Jones took a bullhorn in his hands and began speaking.
"Today we sent a clear message to Speaker Cameron Sexton [R-25] that the people will not allow his crimes against democracy to happen without challenge," he said. "This is not about one person. It's not about one position. It's about a movement of people empowered to restore the soul of what this building should represent and that is democracy."
Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles led Jones in his oath on the steps of the Capitol as cheers erupted from the crowd. When he was done, he raised his fist into the air.
Along with Jones, Rep. Justin Pearson (D-86), a fellow young Black man, was expelled from the House last week. A third GOP expulsion resolution targeting Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-13), who is white, failed.
\u201cHere\u2019s the moment @brotherjones_ walked back onto the house floor arm in arm with @VoteGloriaJ, fist raised \u270a\ud83c\udffe\u201d— The Tennessee Holler (@The Tennessee Holler) 1681167969
As Jones returned to the chamber Monday evening, he walked with Johnson—one arm linked with hers, and the other raised, with his hand in a fist.
From Your Site Articles
- Jones Says He Will Fight 'Unconstitutional' Expulsion as Reinstatement Votes Loom ›
- 'A Very Dark Day for Tennessee': House GOP Expels Democrats Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson ›
Related Articles Around the Web
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.