There are 25 article(s) tagged Justin Pearson:

• March 2025

  • County Democratic Party convention derails amid calls for unity

    The convention to elect a local party chairman went astray over the bylaws and the 300 attendees never got around to voting on a new leader. 

    By Bill Dries March 29, 2025

• August 2024

  • Local Democratic delegates head to Chicago for national convention

    A Parkway Village rally for the Memphis delegates showed the challenges Democrats face in turning out the votes in the November election. 

    By Bill Dries August 19, 2024

• June 2024

  • Political Roundup: Pearson’s first regular election; Taylor on Trump; McKinney opens school board campaign

    Justin J. Pearson opens his third campaign for the state House in a year and a half. State Senator Brent Taylor reacts to the Trump conviction, and Natalie McKinney opens her challenge of MSCS board chairman Althea Greene.

    By Bill Dries June 02, 2024

• May 2024

  • Political Roundup: Selling the tax hike, Democratic unity and the North Memphis way

    The political roundup reviews Mayor Paul Young’s tax-hike pitch to citizens in Orange Mound. Also Justin J. Pearson on the shaky state of Democratic unity, and Telisa Franklin opens her campaign for the District 96 seat.

    By Bill Dries May 09, 2024

• March 2024

  • Tyre Nichols’ parents furious after meeting with state Sen. Brent Taylor

    The Wells family released a letter Friday pleading with Gov. Bill Lee to meet with them before he signs the bill into law, appealing to the promise he made to them in 2023.

    By Ben Wheeler March 15, 2024

• February 2024

  • Tennessee bill would stop counties from reappointing expelled lawmakers

    The bill is sponsored by state Rep. Johnny Garrett, one of the central figures who led the expulsion proceedings against state Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson last April.

    By Ian Round February 21, 2024

• November 2023

  • Pearson urges collaboration between Mississippi and Tennessee Dems, Black leadership

    Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson traveled to North Mississippi on Wednesday to participate in a joint effort across the two states to enhance voter interest.

    By Beth Sullivan November 01, 2023

• August 2023

  • ‘We cannot continue to watch tragedies unfold’

    Memphians rally two days before the Tennessee General Assembly will begin its Aug. 21 special session to consider gun safety legislation, mental health initiatives and other public safety measures.

    By Julia Baker August 19, 2023

• July 2023

  • Early voting opens in special election for state House District 86

    Democratic state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who was expelled from the General Assembly but re-appointed by the County Commission, faces independent candidate Jeff Johnston for the House seat. 

    By The Daily Memphian Staff July 14, 2023

• April 2023

  • If Pearson is reappointed, is stadium funding in jeopardy? Probably not

    The dispute over reappointing an ousted state legislator doesn’t appear to put Memphis stadium funding in jeopardy.

    Related stories:

    Expelled Tennessee House reps retain counsel, including former US Attorney General

    Nashville Metro Council returns Justin Jones to the Tennessee House

    By Samuel Hardiman April 10, 2023

  • Expelled Tennessee House reps retain counsel, including former US Attorney General

    Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, whom Republicans expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives last week, have lawyered up.

    By Ian Round April 10, 2023

  • Things to know about the Tennessee Three expulsion hearings

    Here’s what you need to know about the expulsion of Justin Pearson of Memphis and Justin Jones of Nashville from the Tennessee House of Representatives.

    By The Daily Memphian Staff April 07, 2023

  • What they said: #TennesseeThree hearings

    Some memorable moments from the Thursday, April 6 expulsion hearings against Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson, plus a bonus quote from country singer Margo Price.

    By Ian Round April 07, 2023

  • Morris: Justin Pearson spoke through the hearts of all who grieve

    “I think there is no question that Justin Pearson’s expulsion has given him a much bigger pulpit from which to preach. I now count myself as a member of his flock. What I pray for us all is that we will let compassion and love be the forces which lead us all forward.”

    By G. Scott Morris April 07, 2023

  • What happens now that Justin Pearson has been expelled from his House seat

    The Shelby County Commission has filled two vacant seats in the Tennessee General Assembly from Shelby County in the past year — one following an expulsion and the other resulting from the death of a legislator. Here is how the process works.

    By Bill Dries April 06, 2023

  • White House: Tennessee Republicans ‘want to play politics’ with school shootings

    The White House reaction to the threatened expulsion of three Democratic state Representatives by the majority Republican leadership of the Tennessee House includes calls for an assault weapons ban among other measures.

    Related stories: 

    Rep. Justin Pearson says move to expel is ‘persecution'

    General Assembly introduces resolutions to expel Justin Pearson, two other Democrats

    By Bill Dries April 05, 2023

  • General Assembly introduces resolutions to expel Justin Pearson, two other Democrats

    Tennessee Republicans on Monday, April 3, introduced resolutions to expel state Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson after their protest in favor of gun-safety legislation last week. They could be voted on as soon as Thursday.

    Related story:

    House Speaker accuses Memphis Democrat, two others of ‘insurrection’

    By Ian Round April 04, 2023

  • House Speaker accuses Memphis Democrat, two others of ‘insurrection’

    The Democrats — Reps. Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones — could face expulsion, along with Rep. Justin Pearson, who also participated in the protest. Pearson had no legislative committee assignments to be stripped from.

    By Ian Round April 03, 2023

• February 2023

  • Justin Pearson sworn in as newest Tennessee state representative — in a dashiki

    In a General Assembly dominated by Republicans, an incident over the dress code was the first test of how freely Pearson can express his values — without antagonizing colleagues whose help he’ll need to pass legislation.

    By Ian Round February 13, 2023

• January 2023

  • Social media: ‘Is there a serial killer loose in Westwood?’ Cops: ‘No.’

    A TikTok user has drawn attention to a possible connection between six murders in the Westwood area. Raines Station police addressed each one. 

    By Jasmine McCraven January 24, 2023

  • District 86 election marked by generational divide: The TikTok era vs. the Walkman age

    Voters who show up for the District 86 race could serve as a bellwether for whether Memphians are ready to elect a new generation of political leaders or if they are content to stick with familiar names who have been around local politics and government for decades.

    By Otis Sanford January 13, 2023

• October 2022

  • Local leaders lobby state air pollution board to avoid ‘worst-case scenario’

    The Shelby County Health Department is in danger of losing its authority to monitor local air pollution as the state pressures the program to address understaffing, numerous audit findings and a permit backlog. 

    By Keely Brewer, Ian Round October 17, 2022

• November 2021

  • TVA exec asked about coal ash, Allen plant in virtual town hall

    Councilwoman Patrice Robinson hosted a virtual town hall, where Mark Yates discussed coal ash and his new role as Regional Vice President of Tennessee Valley Authority. 

    By Julia Baker November 03, 2021

• May 2021

  • Fight against Byhalia Connection continues ahead of key council vote

    Many of the speakers reiterated concerns about the pipeline’s potential impact on the city’s aquifer and questioned why the Byhalia Connection had to run through predominantly lower-income Black neighborhoods in Memphis.

    By Omer Yusuf May 03, 2021

• March 2021

  • County Commission denies Byhalia pipeline project two parcels

    The Monday, March 22, meeting also featured the defeat of a resolution calling for federal officials to reconsider a nationwide permit for the pipeline project granted in February by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    By Bill Dries March 23, 2021