One of the two young Black lawmakers expelled from Tennessee’s House of Representatives for protesting gun violence last week has been reappointed.

“Truth crushed to the ground will rise again. I come here to stand with my constituents. No injustice attack on democracy will happen unchallenged,” he continued. “I am hopeful for the days ahead, not because of the actions of this body, but for the people outside of this chamber right now.”

The decision to reappoint Jones came after a 36-0 vote with no one abstaining, according to CNN. A special election is still to come.

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Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville speaks prior to a vote on his expulsion from the legislature at the State Capitol Building

Although the Metro Council usually requires members to wait several weeks to fill vacant legislative seats, Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda said they “didn’t have a single objection to suspension of the rules today,” according toWPLN-FM.

Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville gestures during a vote on his expulsion from the state legislature

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PresidentJoe Bidencalled the expulsion “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent” in a statement, adding: “Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee.”

source: people.com