Rep. Justin Pearson Sues Memphis Alleging First Amendment Violation | Chattanooga Times Free Press
The lawsuit says Memphis officials barred Pearson and six others from future meetings and used public-comment rules that unlawfully limit speech.
- On Tuesday, State Representative Justin J. Pearson filed a federal lawsuit against the Memphis City Council, alleging that a ban from upcoming meetings violates his First Amendment rights.
- Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington banned Pearson after an October 6 meeting regarding a proposed data center moratorium, citing his behavior as "disruptive" and a violation of the council's Rules of Decorum.
- Filed in U.S. District Court for Western Tennessee, the lawsuit includes six other plaintiffs, including his mother, Kimberly Owens-Pearson, and brother, KeShaun Pearson, arguing that public comment policies unconstitutionally restrict speech.
- Pearson and the other plaintiffs have requested a temporary restraining order to permit their attendance at the October 20 meeting, where the final data center vote is scheduled.
- Republican State Senator Brent Taylor, Pearson's opponent in the 9th Congressional District race, criticized the lawsuit, accusing the Democratic nominee of "engaging in law-fare" and causing chaos at government proceedings.
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Rep. Justin Pearson sues Memphis alleging First Amendment violation | Chattanooga Times Free Press
After being banned from Memphis City Council meetings, state Rep. Justin J. Pearson filed suit Tuesday against the city alleging the action violates the First Amendment.
TN-9 Democrat Nominee Justin Pearson Sues Memphis over Ban from City Council Meetings
State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), the Democrats' nominee for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District, on Thursday announced that he filed a lawsuit against the City of Memphis after he was prohibited from attending two Memphis City Council meetings following the protest that caused its October 6 meeting to be ended prematurely amid protests.
Tennessee Lookout
Daily Post-AthenianRep. Pearson sues Memphis alleging First Amendment violation
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who is also the Democratic nominee for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District, is suing the city of Memphis over his two-meeting ban from Memphis City Council. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)After being banned from Memphis City Council meetings, state Rep. Justin J. Pearson filed suit Tuesday against the city alleging the action violates the First Amendment. In the suit, which was filed in the U.S. Distri…
Justin Pearson files lawsuit after being banned from council meetings
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- There's new fallout from a chaotic Memphis City Council meeting last week, causing a group of activists to file a federal lawsuit. This comes after the group was banned from a pair of future council meetings. The list of plaintiffs includes congressional candidate and state representative Justin J. Pearson, his brother Keshaun [...]
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