As an established non-partisan association, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) holds the fundamental rights to the Freedoms of Speech and Assembly, as well as the equal application of law, as the bedrock of our democracy and society. Therefore, NaFFAA is deeply troubled by the Tennessee House of Representatives’ unprecedented expulsion of Justin Bautista Jones and Justin Pearson, two of the state’s youngest legislators of color, who participated in a non-violent protest over gun safety before the Tennessee General Assembly. The peaceful demonstration was in reaction to the tragic Nashville school shooting last March 27th that killed three children and a total of six people. A third and older white legislator, Gloria Johnson, also participated in the protest, but the Tennessee House of Representatives failed to expel Rep. Johnson by one vote.
“The removal of Rep. Jones and Rep. Pearson was overtly hostile to the younger American voices whom we have pledged to empower, and it demonstrated in real time that the equal application of the law is in peril in the State of Tennessee.”
Mariela Fletcher, NaFFAA National President
On April 10th, just a few days after the devastating news of the two lawmakers being expelled, the Nashville Metropolitan Council voted immediately to reinstate one of the two ousted lawmakers, Justin Jones, back to the State Legislature. Shortly after the council vote, Jones led a crowd of hundreds in a march to the Capitol, where he was sworn in. The Memphis Board of Commissioners is also expected to vote on Wednesday on whether to allow Mr. Pearson to reclaim his seat as their representative.
“The expulsion of the two lawmakers by the Tennessee House of Representatives is contrary to the tenets of democracy and violates the rights we as Americans hold dear. We stand by Rep. Justin Jones, who is our kababayan, the first Filipino American elected state legislator in Tennessee. Despite the news of his recent reinstatement, we still urge the Tennessee General Assembly to continue to reexamine its actions, and ensure that Constitutional protections of free speech, equal application of the law, and due process have been applied to all, from now on, and moving forward.”
Brendan Flores, NaFFAA National Chair
NaFFAA is a non-partisan national non-profit organization that serves more than 4.2 million Filipino Americans in the United States. For over 25 years, NaFFAA has been empowering the most vulnerable kababayan, our youth, and other minorities, and working to ensure that our voices are heard and represented at the tables where important decisions about our lives and communities are made.
Since 1997, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has been the standard-bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA is the largest non-partisan, non-profit organization and national affiliation of Filipino American institutions, umbrella organizations, and individuals. Its fourteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.
