jpearson24@nul.org

Justin J. Pearson is the second-youngest member of the Tennessee General Assembly.  Elected in 2023, at the age of 28, state Republicans expelled Pearson from office for protesting gun violence on the House floor as a member of the famed “Tennessee Three” following a tragic school mass shooting in Nashville. Pearson’s stirring speech during his expulsion trial was broadcasted worldwide. He won back his seat in a special election three months later, amassing nearly 94 percent of the vote. Pearson is a national thought leader on justice and democracy, appearing on CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, NPR and in The Washington Post, New York Times and Rolling Stone.  Pearson’s advocacy and leadership inspired The Truman Center to present him its 2024 Award for Exceptional Moral Courage in Public Service.