On Thursday morning, one week after his expulsion from the Tennessee state House, Rep. Justin Pearson was sworn back in to office. Pearson (D-Memphis), along with Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), was expelled for leading an anti-gun protest on the floor of the chamber following the Covenant School shooting. Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) survived an expulsion vote the same day.

Shelby County unanimously voted to reappoint Pearson on Wednesday.

"We have to have a people-powered movement that is guided by the issue of morality, about the right of everybody to feel safe in communities that are safe and not with people, ordinary people, having weapons of war," Pearson said in a press conference after his swearing-in. He added that elected officials need to debate and pass "just legislation."

Pearson says his reappointment was a message from Memphis to that state that "we will not be bought, we will not be disenfranchised. We will not allow the system to continue to do us harm without responding."

Pearson also said he welcomes critics of him and his colleagues.

"This movement is for everybody,” said Pearson. “Nobody is out. Everybody's in. So for anybody who is a critic, you are not — you are a consultant. Welcome to the movement.”

Jones was also reappointed on Monday after a unanimous vote by the Metro Council.

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