*Rep. Justin Pearson is considering filing charges against Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton over an alleged assault.
The two men appeared to engage in a minor scuffle following the special session on Aug. 29 for the Tennessee General Assembly on public safety. It ended with Representative Justin Jones arguing for a vote of no confidence against Sexton. Chants and protests erupted on the House floor, leading to a physical confrontation caught on camera between Sexton and Pearson.
“While I was saying to the Speaker that we are not doing enough, while I was saying that this is shameful and a disgrace to the people in the state of Tennessee, that we are tired of going to funerals, the Speaker violently shoved me in the chest,” said Pearson, a Democrat representing Memphis, WREG-TV Memphis reports. “And then other members of his party also pushed me back towards the clerk’s desk.”
Pearson and Jones are seen in the video following Sexton while holding signs. It is hard to determine who shoved who first.
“I told him don’t bump me,” Sexton said. “My security put their hands on the back which knocked me forward and the photographer when you look at it was to my left so we moved right. At that point, we moved right and Rep. Pearson comes in and pops me from the right side.”
Video: Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton aggressively shoves Rep. Justin Pearson as he exits the dais. Sexton’s frustration with pressure from Pearson and Rep. Jones to address gun violence in GOP legislation boils over. #TennesseePolitics #GunViolenceReform pic.twitter.com/wIyAR6vXGi
— The Black Wall Street Times (@TheBWSTimes) August 30, 2023
Pearson, however, recalls the chaos unfolded a bit differently than Sexton described.
“The speaker had the audacity to turn around and tell me don’t touch him despite the fact that he initiated this aggressive act toward me,” he said. “It’s the aggressive attitude of white supremacy that permeates this institution that leads to policy violence and now physical violence against its members.”
The viral video shows both men were quickly separated.
Pearson is consulting an attorney about his legal options, according to Daphne Thomas, Pearson’s communications director.
White supremacist speaker @CSexton25 violently shoved me today while I held my “Protect Kids, Not Guns!” sign. I’m infuriated by his actions but more infuriated by the INACTION of @tnhousegop to pass a SINGLE bill to prevent gun violence. This is how democracy dies. We must rise! https://t.co/LQXlqsreuS
— Justin J. Pearson (@Justinjpearson) August 30, 2023
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