The seven members on Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Wednesday to reinstate state Rep. Justin Pearson to the Tennessee House less than a week after he was expelled by the Republican-led supermajority for joining gun control protest on the House floor.
Pearson was reinstated during a special meeting in Memphis as board members suspended the rules to allow for an immediate vote, NBC reports.
“Nashville thought they could silence democracy,” Pearson said in a speech after he vote. “But they didn’t know the Shelby County Commission … and its fearless leaders.”
Pearson and another Democrat, Rep. Justin Jones, both of whom are Black, were expelled by the Republican-led supermajority in the House last week for breaking House rules on decorum by joining gun control protest on the House floor. The resolution to expel a third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, a white woman, failed by one vote.
The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted unanimously on Monday to send Jones back to the Tennessee state House.
Both lawmakers were reappointed to serve as interim representatives for their respective districts. Gov. Bill Lee (R) has 60 days to schedule a primary for Jones’ and Pearson’s seats and 107 days to schedule a general election.
Both Jones and Pearson say they plan on running for re-election.
