October 23, 2025
Elevate Your Excellence: Rep. Justin J. Pearson Goes From Memphis Activist To Congressional Candidate
Jones’ dedication is not a sudden electoral ambition but a lifetime vocation forged through generations of working-class struggle and civil rights engagement.
The political trajectory of State Rep. Justin J. Pearson is one rooted in decades of community advocacy and a tireless commitment to justice. A proud native Memphian, Pearson is the fourth son of five boys, who, even as a teenager, demonstrated his penchant for activism by petitioning his local school board for new textbooks for his Mitchell High School classmates.
After graduating valedictorian, he attended Bowdoin College in Maine, earning degrees in Government & Legal Studies and Education Studies in 2017.
It was during the pandemic that Pearson returned to his roots, translating academic knowledge into decisive local action. He was instrumental in leading the victorious fight against two multibillion-dollar oil companies that planned to construct a crude oil pipeline through southwest Memphis. This project threatened the region’s vital groundwater and sought to seize land owned by residents, some of whom had held the property since the abolition of slavery.
Pearson co-founded Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP)—a nonprofit focused on environmental and climate justice—which ultimately defeated the pipeline. This effort, which proved that “People Power wins,” secured his reputation as a formidable organizer and earned him the Sierra Club’s 2023 National Changemaker of the Year award.
In January 2023, the 28-year-old community organizer became the second-youngest lawmaker in the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 86, a sprawling area encompassing downtown Memphis, south Memphis, and Millington. He brought his fierce, servant-leader approach directly to the Capitol.
Just months into his term, Pearson was catapulted into the national spotlight following the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville on March 27, 2023. In an act of nonviolent civil disobedience, Pearson, alongside fellow Reps. Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson staged a protest on the House floor, using a megaphone to demand the Republican-led body act on gun safety.
The political reaction was swift and severe. Republicans retaliated by expelling Pearson from his duly elected seat on April 6, 2023, a move that drew immediate condemnation and national attention. Following the expulsion, Pearson was quickly reinstated by local authorities and triumphantly won back his seat with a stunning 94% of the vote in August 2023. His oratory gifts and courageous actions led to an invitation from President Joe Biden to the White House to discuss gun legislation, solidifying his role as a champion of democracy.
Now, Rep. Pearson is setting his sights on the U.S. Congress, asserting that the current economic and political reality demands a fundamental shift. “The status quo is not working for us, and we cannot keep going with it,” he states. “It is rigged for the wealthiest and most powerful against the rest of us.”
His platform is uncompromising: he vows to fight for working-class people, championing an increased minimum wage, Medicare for All, and environmental and climate justice. He emphasizes the communal nature of his political work, which he describes as a Movement for Justice Rooted in Love. Pearson believes his history of building power and winning against the odds, including writing the most legislation to end the gun violence epidemic in the state, demonstrates his capacity for impactful governance.
“This campaign is not about me. It’s about us!” Pearson declares, emphasizing the collective approach that underpins his political life. He is supported by his wife, Oceana R. Gilliam, MPP, a law student, and his large family.
“We’re all in this together to help make District 9 better for the present and future.” Pearson remains a devout Christian and a tireless champion who promises: “No matter the cost, I will always defend our district with better laws and my voice to fight for the present and future we deserve.”
Pearson’s unwavering dedication to the fight for justice and freedom is evident in his passionate words.
“REP. @justinjpearson (candidate for Congress): “That’s why I keep wearing my flag — even in periods of destruction, there are opportunities for construction… we can’t quit.”
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