Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson Pushes back as the GOP tries to Wipe out Democratic Opposition.

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Rep. Justin Pearson D- Memphis attempts to attend a Senate Committee meeting and is denied entry by the Sergeant at Arms on the second day of special session concerning redistricting at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. After protesters shut down the previous meeting, the Judiciary Committee convened in the same room but the public and several representatives were not allowed inside.

Last week, Tennessee Democrats were kicked out of a meeting room while protesting the Tennessee GOP’s brazen attempt to gerrymander the state map and eliminate the legislature’s only Democratic representative—while carving up the majority-Black Memphis-area district he represents in the process. Now those same Democrats have been removed from every single committee assignment they held as further punishment.

The Root spoke exclusively with Rep. Justin J. Pearson about his confrontation with highway patrol troopers during a protest over the state’s redistricting plans. Rep. Pearson says the measure will diminish black voting power.
By: Amber Ferguson. Published May 13, 2026

(Snip) ~ TN State Rep. Justin J. Pearson (D) was involved in a tense confrontation with Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers after protesters were forcibly removed from the Capitol gallery during the debate over redistricting maps. Justin said he rushed upstairs after seeing troopers grab his older brother and supporters who had refused to leave.

He blamed House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) for the escalation. Pearson: “The Speaker of the House does this. He misuses and abuses his power to clear the gallery so that people aren’t able to bear witness and see what is going on.

The 31-year-old said Tennessee is ground zero in a larger national battle over democracy, race and political power. “This racist redistricting is no different,” he said. “We’re the first state to do it. And now you see Alabama, Mississippi, other states sort of following the lead of Tennessee.”

The Representative warned the maps could strip Black Tennesseans of meaningful representation, threatening not only Memphis’ majority-Black congressional district but several majority-Black legislative seats in the future.

“Losing Black representation means losing perspectives, ideas, advocacy,” he said.

Over the last two years, Pearson and fellow Tennessee lawmakers like Rep. Justin Jones (D) have emerged as national faces of resistance politics in the South. The young, outspoken Black lawmakers have challenged their Republican super majority in a state that is rapidly becoming a flashpoint in America’s culture wars.

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On a finer note, Rep. Pearson stressed that his victory was largely possible due to Black women and the organizing work they had done to make him and other politicians successful.

~ It’s not about the wants of the TN Republicans!!! Mr. Pearson is the representative that the people selected.


Memphis ~ Rep. Justin Pearson D- looks on as people in the crowd begin to chant during a Senate committee meeting on the second day of special session concerning redistricting at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

More here: https://www.theroot.com/rep-justin-pearson-recounts-clash-with-troopers-warns-2000105156

Photo Credit: ]https://www.tennessean.com/picture-gallery/news/politics/legislature/2026/05/06/photos-redistricting-special-session-day-2/89959862007/

Justin’s clash with Troopers: