Protesters in the House gallery, May 7, 2026
This article is from our four-part cover package on the state legislature's special session on redistricting. See the rest here.
Whistles sounded and protesters yelled at the Tennessee State Capitol on the final day of this month’s special legislative session on redistricting. After a whirlwind three days, the state’s Republican supermajority approved the redrawing of Tennessee’s congressional lines — much to the lamentation of those standing outside the House and Senate doors.
In those three days, Republicans cleared galleries and committee rooms, claimed they didn’t know Memphis was majority-Black and moved through legislation to reconfigure the state’s congressional districts at rapid speed.
“There was a court case or two recently that changed different aspects,” said state House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) during the committee process. “Then, what you have had is red and blue states redraw the map in their area. That becomes the benchmark, which is the reason we are back here. No racial data was used in the drawing of this map.”
During the final moments of the session on the Senate floor, Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) climbed atop her desk, brandishing a white sheet featuring the words “No Jim Crow 2.0” and “Stop the TN Steal.” That action — condemned as “outrageous and unprecedented” by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) — demonstrated just how strained relations were between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans said Democrats should maintain decorum. The vastly outnumbered Democrats said the supermajority wasn’t listening to any of their objections.
“They have made a mockery of this legislature,” Oliver tells the Scene. “I stood when I couldn’t do anything else. I stood, and I stood for the people. I stood for the future generations of Tennessee.”
As he entered the Capitol on the final day of the session, Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) set fire to a printout of a Confederate flag.
“We will not go back,” said Jones.
Despite protests from Democrats and demonstrators, the House approved the maps along party lines. Following the vote, Democrats headed to the well — the space on the House floor where lawmakers present legislation. They linked arms, while Jones pointed a bullhorn at Sexton.
As a result of the protests, Sexton removed the majority of the House Democrats from their committee assignments for the remainder of the year.
“The protesters were the most aggressive, violent and vile we have seen,” Sexton told the Scene on the last day of the session. “We are reviewing all individuals who were in the gallery today. We are also investigating the actions of several members on the House floor who intentionally disrupted the House session, brought banned items on the floor, broke decorum and jeopardized the safety of others.”
House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) called the committee removals “one of the most troubling abuses of power this legislature has seen in recent memory.”
“Let’s be clear about what is happening here,” Camper wrote in a release. “This is not about decorum. This is not about rules. This is about power and control.”
As of press time, Democratic Senate members have not received any procedural backlash from what happened in their chamber. A spokesperson for McNally says he “is currently reviewing and considering several possible actions he can take against those who participated in the blatant violation of civility and decorum during the special session.”
Also during the session, Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis) had a suggestion for the legislature: “Let Memphis secede,” he said. Parkinson said if the legislature is going to “pound on Memphis,” then the state no longer needs their tax dollars.
“Black representation was not given freely,” Parkinson said. “Some of you say that you’re my friend. But the shame is all over your face. Perhaps the legislature should explain why Memphis should be part of the state of Tennessee. Don’t hide behind the maps. Let Memphis secede from the state of Tennessee. Let my people go. I am dead-ass serious. Allow us out.”
The Tennessee Highway Patrol removed demonstrators from the House gallery during the session. KeShaun Pearson — the brother of 9th Congressional District candidate and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) — was arrested for refusing to leave the gallery as it was cleared. The Scene followed state troopers to a white van, in which KeShaun Pearson was to be taken to the Davidson County Downtown Detention Center for booking.
Rep. Pearson was present in the gallery, yelling at troopers when his brother was arrested. KeShaun Pearson was released that same day.
A four-part look at the fallout from the Republican supermajority’s successful gerrymandering attempts
