Friend, join us in celebrating Black History Month!

Each week of February, we’ll be profiling young Black leaders who are fighting for progressive change and justice – both in their communities and across the nation.

Today, we’re highlighting Representative Justin Jones of Tennessee.

Justin Jones won his election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2022. At 27 years old, he became the youngest Black lawmaker ever elected to the state legislature, and one of the youngest state representatives currently in office.

Less than three months after taking office, Rep. Jones joined his Democratic colleagues in a protest for gun control on the statehouse floor. Extremist Republicans retaliated by threatening Rep. Jones, Rep. Justin Pearson, and Rep. Gloria Johnson with expulsion. Only Reps. Jones and Pearson – young Black men – were expelled by Tennessee Republicans. They became the first state lawmakers in over a century to be expelled for practicing free speech.

But Tennesseans rallied behind Reps. Jones and Pearson after their unjust expulsion – and in August 2023, both lawmakers won their special elections to remain in the state legislature.

Prior to his election to the state legislature, Jones was a dedicated young activist. He received the John R. Lewis Scholarship for Social Activism in 2013 and became an avid student organizer for voting rights and healthcare while in college. Among other organizing efforts, Jones led a 62-day sit-in outside the Tennessee Capitol in 2020 to pressure Governor Bill Lee to act on racial justice.

Friend, young changemakers like Justin Jones are taking office nationwide to help solve the most important issues of our generation – and supporters like you are critical to their historic victories.

Young activists are running for office this year from coast-to-coast – so please click here to make sure you’re registered and ready to vote them in this fall! >>

Thank you for celebrating Black History Month with us, Friend!

Future Coalition

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