“I do believe that we cannot afford to lose the courage to speak truth to power. We cannot lose the courage to support our Republic. We cannot lose the courage to support this democratic constitutional experiment, that without our very hands, our very hearts, our very feet, our very souls into it, we might lose it.”
—Representatives Justin J. Pearson
At TruCon 2024, the Truman Center proudly presented its Award for Exceptional Moral Courage in Public Service to Tennessee State Representatives Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones. The award is given each year to public servants whose values have led them to do what’s right, even when doing so may have posed personal risk. The Award was presented by last year’s recipient, Congressman Jamie Raskin.
Representatives Pearson and Jones are dedicated community organizers from Tennessee and champions of civil rights, transparency, and integrity. Throughout their careers, they have tirelessly worked to encourage civic participation among Tennessee residents, while fighting for justice and equity. Following the March 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, they courageously protested in the Tennessee House of Representatives for gun control legislation, leading to their expulsion from the Tennessee House by the Republican majority.
Congressman Raskin, introducing Rep. Pearson, hailed him as a beacon of hope: “[He] is a leader of the new generation, an amazing generation beyond racism, beyond anti-semitism, beyond misogyny, beyond immigrant bashing…they’re going to save us, and no better representative of that generation is the great representative from Tennessee, Justin Pearson.”
During his acceptance speech, Rep. Pearson attributed the honor to his entire district and community, and underscored the need for those in power to remain accountable and unwavering in their commitment to upholding moral values and the Constitution. He highlighted issues such as inflation and the existential threats posed by environmental and climate racism and injustice, ending his speech condemning systemic racism and patriarchy that is entrenched in power.
In a panel moderated by Eva Posner, a Truman Political Partner since 2021, Pearson cautioned against the erosion of democracy, stifling of dissenting voices and undermining of vital institutions. He advocated for seeking common ground when engaging with politicians across the ideological spectrum. Congressman Raskin echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of humanity and the universality of rights. Both Pearson and Raskin stressed the significance of collective action and political participation, highlighting the pivotal role of young people and the importance of voting in all levels of elections.
Written by Alexandria Johnson and Chris Aboukhaled
