Tenn. Congressman Who Was Expelled After Leading An Insurrection Claims He's Black Jesus, Will Be Resurrected Sunday

NASHVILLE — Emotions ran high in Tennessee's Republican-controlled House on Thursday as the GOP supermajority voted 72-25 to expel Democratic Rep. Justin Jones, a Nashville freshman, and 69-26 to expel another freshman, Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, for engaging in an impromptu floor protest for stronger gun protections following the March 27 mass shooting of six children and adults at a private Christian school in Nashville.

House galleries were packed with at least 250 students, parents and other supporters chanting "fascists" and "our House" at Republican lawmakers as they adjourned after expelling Pearson, who earlier gave a rousing speech in defense of his actions. Hundreds of others chanted outside the chamber.

Pearson, a social justice advocate, praised God for bringing him to an institution "built by enslaved people's hands and under the God, who praises those who have been martyred in life and excluded into this place." The audience erupted in cheers as Pearson spoke.

The defrocked Democrat Pearson then compared himself to Christ insisting he was the “black Jesus” and would rise on Sunday.