NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A member of the Tennessee Three is again facing calls for him to leave the House of Representatives after he declined to lead lawmakers in the Pledge of Allegiance.
At the start of the House Floor session, Rep. Justin Jones (D - Nashville) introduced Sally Wells, the President of the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee. She led the House of Representatives in its morning prayer. It was conducted in the Choctaw language.
"Today is a historic day as the state that gave the nation President Andrew Jackson and was crossed by the Trail of Tears now has its first indigenous woman leading prayer. Tennessee played a major role in the execution of the Indian Removal Act of 1830," he said. "But, indigenous people were never fully removed and have continued to survive here in Tennessee. First, in hiding in the Smoky Mountains after the removal in 1838, until today where they celebrate and showcase their culture."
After the prayer, Speaker Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville) said Jones declined to lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. Instead, it was done by Rep. Karen Camper (D - Memphis).
Jones posted on social media Friday saying he did not want to join in the pledge because he did not want to participate in performative patriotism with Republican colleagues. His full statement posted on social media is below.
"Yesterday, my Republican colleagues called on me to resign for declining to lead them in the pledge of allegiance.
I couldn’t bring myself to join their performative patriotism as they continue to support an insurrectionist for president and undermine liberty and justice for all."
Soon after the pledge was recited, Rep. Jeremy Faison (R - Cosby) called for Jones to resign.
“It’s shameful that you can come into this chamber to actually serve in here,” said Faison. “You have to raise your hand and swear an oath to the constitution. You’ve been fortunate enough to serve in a chamber of the United States of America. That flag represents the constitution to me; you can’t break the two apart.”
According to NBC affiliate WSMV in Nashville, Jones also released a full statement about his decision not to participate in the pledge. It is available below.
“I declined to lead the pledge of allegiance with my Republican colleagues who have attacked ‘liberty and justice for all’ when it comes to the people of our state and continue to support a man for President who incited an insurrection against our nation. It’s ironic that the same legislators who champion Confederate flags and monuments, now want to lecture others about what patriotism should look like. Perhaps Speaker Sexton who has still refused to answer for not actually living in his district and inappropriate relationships with lobbyists should resign.”
Jones is one of three House representatives who faced expulsion votes during the 2023 legislative session. He was joined by Rep. Gloria Johnson (D - Knoxville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D - Memphis) during a demonstration at the House of Representatives calling for gun reform.
While few gun restrictions materialized from the demonstration, Republican lawmakers put forth resolutions expelling all three of them. Johnson survived the vote and kept her seat, while Jones and Pearson were expelled. They were later voted back into the House on an interim basis, before reclaiming their seats in formal elections.
