One of two Black lawmakers expelled from the Tennessee House last week was reinstated by the Nashville Metropolitan Council on Monday, effectively restoring him to his seat with the state Legislature, reports the Associated Press.
It took minutes for Nashville’s governing body to unanimously reinstate Rep. Justin Jones after he and fellow Democratic lawmaker Justin Pearson were expelled by the Republican-controlled House in a racist and politically retaliatory fashion.
When the votes were announced in the Nashville Metro Council chambers, a crackle of applause descended upon the room.
JUST IN: With a unanimous vote, the Metro Nashville Council voted to reinstate Justin Jones to the Tennessee House of Representatives after he was expelled by Republicans last week pic.twitter.com/tDq3bmygMd
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) April 10, 2023
Afterward, Jones walked several blocks from the Nashville Metro Council to the Tennessee State Legislature, where a crowd greeted him with resounding applause.
Jones took the oath of office on the steps and entered the building to supporters singing “This Little Light of Mine.”
State Rep. Justin Jones was sworn back into his seat as an interim representative on the steps of Tennessee's state Capitol in Nashville surrounded by a crowd of people https://t.co/zHyYzuBMgV pic.twitter.com/LyDXR9daMe
— CNN (@CNN) April 10, 2023
“To the people of Tennessee, I stand with you,” Jones said in his first statement on the House floor. “We will continue to be your voice here. And no expulsion, no attempt to silence us will stop us, but it will only galvanize and strengthen our movement. And we will continue to show up in the people’s house.
“Power to the people,” he shouted to cheering supporters.
