Justin Jones - Tennessee District 52 House of Representative
Discover the journey of Justin Jones, a passionate activist and Tennessee District 52 House Representative, advocating for healthcare, racial justice, and voting rights. Learn about his impact and vision for a brighter future.
Born in Tennessee, Justin Jones became a prominent politician, community activist, and organizer. His educational background includes studying at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Fisk University. From a young age, Jones has been a passionate advocate for justice, leading initiatives focused on healthcare, combating racial profiling in law enforcement, and expanding Medicaid in Tennessee. He has also engaged in discussions on systemic racism within the halls of power.
Tennessee District 52 is a legislative district in the state of Tennessee. It is located in parts of Nashville and is represented by Justin Jones, a member of the Democratic Party. Jones won the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 52 on November 8, 2022. He assumed office on April 10, 2023, and his current term ends on November 5, 2024.
Political Career
Following the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020, Jones orchestrated a 62-day sit-in protest outside the state capitol, demanding racial justice. Consequently, he faced detention and was charged with 14 offenses, all eventually dismissed.
In 2019, Jones announced his intention to run for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in the US House of Representatives. Unfortunately, he failed to gather the valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. Undeterred, he successfully campaigned for District 52 in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2022. However, in April 2023, Jones was ejected from the Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives for participating in a pro-gun control demonstration on the chamber's floor. As a result, Jones and another African American legislator, Justin Pearson, were expelled from the legislature through a two-thirds majority vote.
Despite this setback, the Nashville Metropolitan Council temporarily selected Jones to represent his vacated House District 52 seat. As a result, it appears that both Jones and Pearson are eligible to seek re-election for their respective positions in the upcoming special election.
Background
Born in Oakland, California, on August 28, 1996, Justin Jones hails from the United States. Justin Jones’s full name is Justin Shea Bautista-Jones. His grandparents immigrated to California from the Philippines. His nationality is American. Justin Jones is unmarried and he is single as of April 2023. Justin Jones is around 5 feet 9 inches tall. His weight is around 143 lbs (65 kg). Instagram Profile
Raised by his mother, Christine, who pursued her nursing education, he also found strong guidance from his Black American father. Both parents significantly contributed to shaping Justin's character and values. Growing up in the East Bay, Justin attended public schools, where he discovered the importance of advocating for equal rights from a young age. Since his youth, he has been a dedicated champion for justice, rallying for healthcare and against racially biased policing as a college student.
As a dynamic American politician and community organizer, Justin Jones is deeply committed to activism. He focuses on healthcare, combating racial prejudice in law enforcement, and pushing for expanding Medicaid in Tennessee while challenging restrictive state voter ID laws.
Hailing from a working-class family in a small Tennessee town, Justin's upbringing was instrumental in molding his character and convictions. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded campaigns to extend Medicaid access in Tennessee and repeal limiting state voter ID laws. Furthermore, Justin has tackled systemic racism in positions of power and actively promoted racial justice and gun control measures.
Education & Political Affiliation
Justin Jones, an influential community leader, advocate, and political figure from Tennessee, holds a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 52, representing sections of Nashville while affiliating with the Democratic Party. Having acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fisk University, Jones later pursued further education at Vanderbilt Divinity School.
Throughout his career, Jones has passionately engaged in various forms of activism, championing healthcare initiatives, combating racial bias in law enforcement, and advocating for the expansion of Medicaid in Tennessee. He has also fought to repeal limiting state voter ID regulations. Jones's work extends to campaigning against systemic racism and promoting societal racial justice.
In a recent event, Jones faced expulsion from the legislature following a gun control demonstration on the House floor. A two-thirds majority vote made this decision from his Republican counterparts. Despite this setback, Jones remains a steadfast advocate for the causes he believes in, continuing to make an impact through his work in the political arena.
Expulsion from the Tennessee House of Representatives
Justin Jones was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives by a Republican majority following a protest over gun violence that made its way onto the House floor. Jones and another lawmaker, Justin J. Pearson, were accused of breaking House rules on conduct and etiquette and voted to expel both.
The lawmakers called the expulsions undemocratic and racist, as they were the youngest Black lawmakers in the legislature. However, Jones was reinstated after garnering national attention, and the Nashville Metro Council voted unanimously to reinstate him.
The expulsion of Jones and Pearson has drawn reactions from scores of high-profile officials, including President Joe Biden, who called the expulsions "shocking, undemocratic and without precedent." However, expelling lawmakers is quite rare in Tennessee, and there have been only two expulsions in the state House over the past 157 years.
Back in the House
In the Tennessee House of Representatives, Justin Jones is back. On April 11, 2023, the Nashville Metro Council overwhelmingly voted to reinstate him to his post in the Tennessee House of Representatives, just days after Republicans in the chamber voted to expel him and colleague member Justin Pearson. Soon after the vote, Jones was sworn in on the steps of the Capitol.
Jones addressed the House, saying, "I want to welcome the people back to the people's house. I'm hopeful for the days ahead for Tennessee, not because of the actions of this body, but because of the actions of the people out there, the thousands gathered outside this chamber right now, who are...". Jones' expulsion and subsequent reinstatement have drawn reactions from scores of high profile officials, including President Joe Biden, who called the expulsions "shocking, undemocratic and without precedent".
State legislation permits local legislative bodies to appoint interim House members to take the places of expelled representatives. Cameron Sexton, the speaker of the Tennessee House, had earlier stated that he would not obstruct the nominations if the regional authorities decided to recall Jones and Pearson to the chamber.
Jones: There is a movement rising up in Tennessee to send a message to these anti-democratic forces that you’re in the find out portion.. pic.twitter.com/RkCubx5BJh
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2023
Future Plans
At this juncture, Justin Jones has yet to divulge any explicit intentions concerning his future political trajectory. Jones serves as a representative for District 52 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, encompassing portions of Nashville, with his term slated to conclude on November 5, 2024.
As a multifaceted figure, Jones has demonstrated his prowess as a community organizer, activist, and political figure. His various endeavors encompass advocating for healthcare accessibility, combating racial bias in law enforcement, championing the expansion of Medicaid within Tennessee, and endeavoring to overturn the state's restrictive voter identification legislation. Additionally, Jones has actively participated in various campaigns tackling systemic racism and promoting racial equity.
In the past, Jones declared his intention to run for the United States House of Representatives, representing Tennessee's 5th congressional district in a challenge against Jim Cooper during the 2020 election cycle. However, due to insufficient valid signatures, he ultimately failed to secure a position on the ballot. Nevertheless, Jones' unwavering dedication to activism and community organizing underscores his continued engagement with social justice causes. Nevertheless, the particulars of his future political aspirations remain uncertain at present.
