“The Tennessee Three,” a trio of Democratic state representatives, faced expulsion from the Tennessee House last week. Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson all participated in gun control protests on the house floor the week prior, halting proceedings and riling a crowd of protestors in the gallery.

Using a bullhorn to lead chats from the “Well,” which is where members of the House give speeches, the three representatives overtook the session to demonstrate in favor of gun control, violating rules of decorum. As a result, the General Assembly voted to oust Reps. Jones and Pearson. Rep. Jonson was spared expulsion by a single vote.

TN House Republicans Tweeted:

Their only interest is being in the spotlight. Today, they got what they wanted - the spotlight is on them, and suddenly they’re capable of inciting peace during a session, instead of chaos. Where were your calls for decorum during proceedings last week?

Johnson, who is a white woman, said she thinks she was spared because of her race. Jones and Pearson, both black men, have also accused the House of being motivated by racism. Jones even accused Rep. Sabi Kumar (R), who immigrated to the US from India, of “putting a brown face on white supremacy.”

Rep. Jody Barrett (R) stated in a press release that he, “Had every intention of voting in favor of expulsion of all three Members.” But Johnson’s lawyers made a convincing case in her favor.

Several House Members agreed that the allegations made against Johnson in the resolution were unfair. Although she stood by in support of the protest, she did not participate in shouting through a bullhorn and inciting the gallery of protestors to chant loudly.

“Ultimately, I just did not think that we had properly established the case for expulsion of Rep. Johnson,” Barrett stated.

Background

All three representatives have a reputation for activism, causing disruptions and violating rules for years. This has created a sense of frustration and impatience among their colleagues.

Jones especially is a well-known left-wing activist, plaguing the legislature with acts of protest for years. Before becoming an elected representative in 2022, Jones was carried out of the House gallery on multiple occasions for creating a disturbance and hindering proceedings.

In 2018, Jones was put in jail during a Marsha Blackburn rally for criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Jones has also faced multiple charges for incidents like throwing a traffic cone at a driver during a protest blocking the road. He was arrested in 2019 for throwing a drink on Rep. Glen Casada (R-TN) and calling republican Members racist.

In 2020, Jones led a group of protestors in trying to force their way into the Capitol, demanding to “get some answers” from lawmakers. The Deputy District Attorney General filed a motion asking for Jones to be banned from the Tennessee State Capitol. However, the judge denied this motion.

As an elected representative, Jones continued his activism. According to a source close to republican staffers, Jones used his staff badge to bring protestors into the session on a Members Only elevator. This, along with his history of unruly behavior, was a large contributor to House Representatives seeking to restrict Jones’ access and, ultimately, expel him.

What Happens Next?

Council members in Davidson County voted 36-0 to reinstate Rep. Jones on Monday. Shelby County Board of Commissioners is also set to vote on Pearson’s reinstatement today. If this happens, the House rules state that Members cannot be expelled again for the same incident. 

Upon his reinstatement, Jones said, “The first thing I do when I walk into this building as a representative is to continue that call for common sense gun legislation.”

In contrast, Rep. Jeremy Faison (R) stated that Jones and Pearson have a reputation for “grabbing the mic, sucking the air out of the room, making sure no other voice is heard.”

Should both Jones and Pearson be reinstated, their history of behavior will likely continue. If they reenter and violate House rules, they could face expulsion again.

The entire ordeal has drawn national attention and commentary from top democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Tennessee to decry the ouster, saying it is “not a democracy.” Harris also drew criticism from the right for meeting with the expelled representatives but not the families of the victims of the Covenant School shooting.

Former President Obama Tweeted:

This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice – especially when they’re doing it on behalf of our children.

President Biden also made a statement saying, “Today's expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. 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.”

Tennessee House Republicans, on the other hand, defended their vote to expel Jones and Pearson, saying a failure to do so would be a failure of democracy.