‘You’re in the Find out Portion’: Justin Jones Seeks Tenn. GOP Speaker's Resignation
Jones and Pearson have been reinstated to the legislature
Fresh from his reinstatement as a Tennessee state legislator, Rep Justin Jones is already seeking the resignation of the man who just last week oversaw Jones’ expulsion.
Just days after he and state Rep Justin Pearson were ousted from their elected posts as state lawmakers in a maneuver many around the country saw as racist, Jones was back at the Tennessee legislature and invoking the popular-yet-profane expression, “F--- around and find out,” in his new quest to secure the resignation of Republican Tennessee house Speaker Cameron Sexton.
“There’s a movement rising up in Tennessee, from Memphis to Nashville to Knoxville, to send a message to these anti-democratic forces that you’re in the ‘find out’ portion. You’re in the ‘find out’ portion,” Jones said amid supporters, soon after he and Pearson were reinstated to their positions by their respective local councils.
The pair of young, Black state lawmakers were expelled just last week for taking part in a noisy — but peaceful — protest on the Tennessee house floor to complain about inaction on gun safety reform following the deadly shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville which left six people — including three young children — dead.
Tennessee Republicans called the Democrats' demonstration a violation of Tennessee state house rules.
However, a third Tennessee Democrat, state Rep Gloria Johnson also took part in the demonstration — but was spared expulsion.
Unlike Jones and Pearson, Johnson is white, leaving Tennessee Republicans open to allegations of rampant racism. Johnson, herself, said that she was spared simply for the color of her skin.
The incident, which has come to be known as the “Tennessee Three,” has drawn wide national attention including a visit by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now back as a state legislator, Jones gave no indication of being bowed by recent events.
“As you’ve shut off our microphones, and so we had to bring a megaphone. As you pushed our people to the back, so we had to walk up to the front of the well. So we have a clear message that our brother Pearson is going to join in. We know, I’m confident, because I know that after crucifixion comes resurrection,” Jones said. “So when we walk in that chamber tomorrow as representatives again, we must continue the demands that led us there in the first place. That a week after mass shooting hit Nashville, rather than pass commonsense gun laws, they passed a resolution to expel the two youngest black members in the General Assembly.
“And so we walk in there tomorrow with a clear message that we demand Cameron Sexton to resign,” Jones added.
It was Sexton, as speaker, who refused to allow consideration of any new gun safety reform following the Covenant School massacre and then oversaw as Republicans moved to expel Jones and Pearson.
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