John,
Last week, I received official notice from Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton that I had been removed from all of my state House committee assignments — alongside every other Tennessee House Democrat.
This is one of the most troubling abuses of power in our state’s history.
John, this kind of retaliation only works if we let them intimidate us into silence. I won’t let it, but I’ll need your help to keep fighting. So if you’re able to, split $10 or more right now with our campaign and Justice Democrats to keep our grassroots Movement strong enough to defend ourselves and our communities from this authoritarian attack.
If this sounds familiar, it should. Because this is what TN House Republicans do when they don’t like what you have to say.
More than three years ago, they expelled me after I protested on the House floor against their inaction on gun violence. They thought they could make an example of me for refusing to be quiet while our communities were hurting.
Now, they’re doing it all over again.
In early May, they pushed through rigged, racist maps designed to eliminate TN-09’s identity as a majority-Black, Democratic district. TN House Democrats stood together and made it clear that we would not stand for this injustice.
So they retaliated.
Committee assignments aren’t ceremonial positions. They’re how state lawmakers do the day-to-day work of representing our communities — from hearing bills, shaping policy, and fighting for the needs of the People who sent us there.
But no matter what, they can’t strip away our voice, our courage, and our commitment to our People and neighborhoods. Civil rights icon and former Representative John Lewis taught us to make good trouble — necessary trouble.
With your support, we’ll keep doing just that, John.
In Love and Service,
Justin J. Pearson
