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Like many, I was captivated by the story of the expulsion of two Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee. I was drawn in by the righteous and justifiable indignation, the engaging call to action, and I listened intently to the powerful voices of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. I felt inspired as I witnessed these dynamic, passionate, and innate leaders come into their own right before my eyes. One of the two, Representative Justin Jones, just so happens to be a graduate of my school district, West Contra Costa Unified (WCCUSD). While I do not know him personally, I was immediately drawn in by his impactful voice, tremendous story, and much-needed advocacy.
The expulsion of Jones and Pearson was indeed “morally insane.” It seems sadly true that “common sense and gun control” no longer go hand in hand. I am so thankful for Jones as he continues to use social media as a platform to amplify his voice and advocate for the voice of the youth. After he was expelled, Jones tweeted, “What’s happening in Tennessee is a clear danger to democracy all across this nation.” While Jones was just reinstated to the state legislature, the fact remains that expelling lawmakers for engaging in peaceful protest is a dangerous slippery slope. These young politicians not only represented the fight against injustice in their advocating for stricter gun control in America but also represented the power of young voices in the fight for change.
What Happened in Tennessee
The expulsion of Reps. Jones and Pearson occurred less than two weeks after yet another mass shooting that killed six people, three children, and three adults. The attempted silencing of these voices speaking for gun control in the wake of this latest tragedy is shameful and blatantly undemocratic. However, it is encouraging to see the support they have garnered as a result of the injustice imposed upon them. I have seen several WCCUSD school board members, teacher union leaders, mayors, council members, county supervisors, congress members, and even former President Barack Obama rally to support via social media and other outlets.
These young and powerful voices must continue to be honored and celebrated for the incredible fortitude they have demonstrated to advocate for children in Tennessee. A closer look at the “allegations” against Jones and Pearson makes one question the true reasons behind their expulsion, especially considering their White colleague was spared. It appears to be an obvious attempt to silence the power of young Black voices.
The fact that Jones is one of the youngest members of the Tennessee state legislature is a powerful testament to the powerful voice of young politicians. We should amplify voices like his in our efforts to not only implement crucial gun control laws that will finally protect students and teachers but find ways to reimagine the system of education as a whole. This begins with amplifying voices like Jones’ and Pearson’s as well as the voice of the plethora of youth speaking out against gun violence in America.
A History of Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble
Jones has a long history of activism prior to the most recent student protest. In “What to know about ‘the Tennessee three’ after two Dems are expelled,” Politico reported, “In 2019, Jones led sit-ins and protests for the removal of a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Tennessee State Capitol. In 2020, Jones organized a 62-day sit-in protest for racial justice outside the state capitol after the murder of George Floyd.” In his short career, Jones has proven to be an advocate for fighting against injustice on many fronts. We can learn a lot from this young man who, as his Instagram biography states, is continuing the fight of those who came before us and is truly “carrying [his] ancestors’ prayers.” We need to follow suit and learn the importance of using our voices for change, no matter the “trouble” we might get into. Jones himself speaks about the power of young voices: “We, as elected officials, have a moral responsibility to listen to these young people who are on the frontlines who are terrified, who are here, crying and pleading for their lives.” We need to listen to both Jones and the voices of our young people in America.
“Jones often calls his activism “good trouble,” referencing late civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who referred to his decades-long activism work and peaceful protesting as “good trouble.” I see Jones’ work as the epitome of “good trouble.” Now Jones and Pearson have been expelled after using their platform to amplify student protestors. As a lifelong advocate of the power of student voice, I see this expulsion as not only an attempt to silence powerful young voices in our political parties but yet another attempt to silence student voices.
I have a long commitment to amplifying student voices in my classroom. My students and I were humbled to be included in a chapter in a book entitled Amplify Student Voices. In our contributing Chapter 2, we discuss how to create “Brave Spaces to Combat Marginalization.” Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and the youth of Tennessee embodied these “brave spaces” in their self-advocacy and fight against injustice. In the same chapter, it states that “We live in a world with a multitude of threats to self-expression and stark divides between who feels entitled to voice their beliefs and who faces danger every time they open their lips.” These threats came in the form of expulsion, a larger attempt to silence student voices, and an even more impactful attempt to quiet the rage against injustice. Thankfully, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson exemplify the face of those who refuse to be silenced: the loud and powerful young voices who are calling for change.
A Call to Action
In the face of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, I see the faces of my students. Matthew 18:10 says it clearly: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones.” We must heed the voices of the young. When Republican Mike White told Jones that he had “been up here for 14 years, you have been in this assembly for two months, three months,” I felt the belittling, dismissing, and silencing of all young people who fight against the “old guard” and status quo. I see the faces of young Black men and young Black students who have something to say and voices that need to be heard. I see the faces of those – including my students – who have been undervalued, overlooked, and often silenced when they choose to speak up for what is right. Our students are fighting to be heard in their classrooms, in their schools, in their districts, and in their communities. As my students and I wrote in “Amplify Student Voices,” we need to listen to and amplify youth voices: “Fighting oppression is personal work that relies on the voices of young people who have lived their lives on the margins, refuse to be invisible, and “freedom-dream” together in service of creating a just world.”
These young voices want changes to be made in the laws that allow guns to be purchased and used to commit these horrible acts against them. They want changes to be made in the policies that allow institutional racism to occur in many facets of American society. And they also want changes to be made in the system of education that has all too often silenced their voices as well.
As educators, we have a responsibility to listen to and uplift student voices. We can do this by encouraging student leadership at the school, district, or community level. This may include joining leadership classes, school board or city council presentations or public comments, or emails or letters to district personnel. When encouraging this, we need to make sure to explain how the student voice will be used and in what capacity it can influence their own self-advocacy.
We Are Watching and We Will Amplify Student Voices
As we continue to watch how this story unfolds, let us not diminish the power of the voice of young politicians like Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, nor the tremendous impact student voice can have on major issues in America. In The Washington Post, Jones stated that “the nation is watching us, what we do here.” No truer statement has ever been said. Teachers are watching. Students are watching. America is watching. The world is watching.
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