‘You can’t expel our fight’: ousted Democrat returns to Tennessee house

Memphis officials voted to reinstate Justin Pearson, the second of two lawmakers expelled from legislature by Republicans

Hundreds of supporters marched Justin Pearson through Memphis to the Shelby county board of commissioners meeting on Wednesday, chanting and cheering before entering the commission chambers, where officials quickly voted 7-0 to restore him to his position.

The message for all the people in Nashville who decided to expel us: You can't expel hope. You can't expel justice," Pearson said at the meeting, his voice rising as he spoke. You can't expel our voice. And you sure can't expel our fight."