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John,
Not long ago, I asked you to split a donation between Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville and Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, Tennessee. Now with their special elections in just one day, I’m asking you to make a donation again.
Here’s why.
Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives expelled Rep. Jones and Rep. Pearson from the chamber for standing up to the NRA and protesting gun violence after a mass shooter slaughtered 6 people in a Nashville school — including 3 nine-year old children.
Following the shooting, Reps. Jones and Pearson stood alongside more than 1,000 youth protesters who staged a peaceful protest at the state Capitol for gun safety legislation.
Republicans called these young protesters “insurrectionists,” and the GOP House Speaker went so far as to say it was “at least equivalent, maybe worse” than the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Soon after, Reps. Jones and Pearson were singled out for an expulsion vote along with one of their white Democratic colleagues who joined in the protest.
But only Reps. Pearson and Jones were expelled. Tennessee Republicans tried to send a very clear message with that vote: That two young Black men, democratically elected by their constituents to represent them in the Capitol, can be silenced in an authoritarian show of force against dissent.
Photo credit: Reuters/Cheney Orr
It was an affront to democracy and one of the most blatantly authoritarian and unconscionable actions taken by Republicans yet, expulsion from office.
Following their expulsions, local governments in Nashville and Memphis appointed Reps. Jones and Pearson to the seats that Republicans had forced them to vacate — and now their special elections to fill those seats for the remainder of the term are just 24 hours away.
I’m running for the United States Senate to defend and strengthen our democracy. But today, I’m asking you to help support two other defenders of democracy — Tennessee Democrats like Justin Jones and Justin Pearson need your help in the final 24 hours of their special elections.
Tennessee Republicans made a choice that day: To continue an ugly legacy of discrimination and denial of political representation to Black Tennesseans.
We can make a different choice. Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson are both running in a special election TOMORROW to continue representing their districts. Let’s give them a bullhorn.
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your split donation to Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson will go through immediately:
Thank you,
— Adam
