We now know Justin Jones and Justin Pearson as “The Justins,” two Democratic, Black, Tennessee state legislators who, along with Rep. Gloria Johnson, led a protest calling for gun control after yet another school shooting. They became known as The Tennessee Three, though only the Justins were expelled by the G.O.P. supermajority. (They were reinstated by their local districts on an interim basis a few days later.) The Republicans were so offended by their brief loss of power—the protest forced the assembly to go into recess—that they responded with the disproportionate act of expulsion, effectively disenfranchising tens of thousands of people in the Nashville and Memphis areas who Jones and Pearson represent.
Try Puck for free
Sign up today to join the inside conversation at the nexus of Wall Street, Washington, A.I., Hollywood, and more.
Already a member? Log In
- Daily articles and breaking news
- Personal emails directly from our authors
- Gift subscriber-only stories to friends & family
- Unlimited access to archives
- Exclusive bonus days of select newsletters
- Exclusive access to Puck merch
- Early bird access to new editorial and product features
- Invitations to private conference calls with Puck authors
Exclusive to Inner Circle only
Latest Articles from Washington
The Greenland Mile
Trump’s G.O.P. Greenlanditis
Inside the Democratic ICE Storm
Klobuchar’s Minnesota Succession Mess
Will Democrats Impeach Kristi Noem?
The Havana Hangover
John Thune Has the Hardest Job in Washington
Get access to this story
Enter your email for a free preview of Puck’s full offering, including exclusive articles, private emails from authors, and more.
Latest Articles from Washington
Support for ICE Is Collapsing
Pelosi Succession Chatter & Gavin-mander Aftershocks
The Ballad of Rand & Lindsey
The Wolves of First Street
The Big Olowski Has Left the Building
Trump’s Mile-High Revenge Tour
Manospheres of Influence
You have 1 free article Left
To read this full story and more, start your 14 day free trial today →
Already a member? Log In
Get access to this story
Enter your email to get access to one article and free previews of our private emails from Puck authors and editors.
Already a Member? Sign in
Latest Articles from Washington
Neocon Don
The Four Horsemen of Capitol Hill’s Apocalypse
The World According to Ezra
The Real House Members of Potomac
The G.O.P.’s Midterm Polling Paradox
The ICE Storm