‘Fake Southern Preacher’: Videos Show Expelled Tennessee Lawmaker’s Oratorical Transformation

Video footage of Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who was recently expelled from the statehouse, has resurfaced showing him as a college student pursuing a moderate brand of politics absent of fiery rhetoric and dramatic, preacher-like delivery. Pearson ran for student body president of Bowdoin College and pitched a campaign to bring together divergent liberal and conservative voices to find common ground. However, more recently, his approach has been to bring a “subversive” agenda to the Tennessee General Assembly and lead chants with a bullhorn from the state House floor.

Pearson was expelled last week after disrupting a session of the Tennessee House by leading gun control protesters in chants from the House floor with a bullhorn. Comparing his expulsion to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Pearson suggested he would rise again in a speech. Pearson and another politician, Justin Jones, have garnered the media attention and portrayed themselves as modern-day civil rights activists. Pearson initially said he hoped to pursue an agenda that was “subversive to the status quo,” adding that “white supremacy,” “homophobia,” “misogyny,” and “racism” all needed to be torn down.

Pearson’s accent has also become a point of criticism online, with some viewers noticing a marked difference in tone and a “crazy fake southern preacher accent” when compared to footage of him as a college student. There is currently a vote from the Shelby County Commissioners to reappoint Pearson to his seat.