WCPT 820 Interview: Tennessee State Rep. Justin J. Pearson

Filling in for Richard Chew, Michelle Peltier is joined by Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee state representative and newly announced candidate for Congress in the 9th Congressional District of Tennessee. The seat is currently held by longtime incumbent Democrat Steve Cohen, who is running for re-election.

Pearson recounted his early activism at age 15, securing textbooks for his school. "You have to show up, speak up, and change is possible," he said of the experience. "And I kept that mentality. I was just a kid advocating and speaking up. I probably didn't even use those words, but just saying, look, something's wrong, and you all are the ones responsible for fixing it. That's the same message that we have now. Something's wrong in our democracy. Something's wrong with the affordability crisis that we have. Something's wrong with one out of three kids in our district living in poverty. Something's wrong and we need to go to the places that are responsible for doing something about it."

Pearson highlighted the importance of grassroots support in his effort to "topple the status quo" and his campaign's need for "at least" a thousand volunteers. He stressed the urgency of voter mobilization, citing the administration's authoritarian actions and the necessity of community engagement to preserve democracy.

"I'm hopeful that we are awakened to the reality of the destruction of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism," Pearson told WCPT. "I'm hopeful that we are paying attention to the abuses of power by this administration in just nine months, and the destruction and chaos that they have rained on this country and the world, kidnapping people, sending them to other countries, taking away SNAP benefits for millions of people. I am hopeful that we are seeing our voting and our participation does have consequences, and our lack of voting and our lack of participation also has consequences. 

"But if you do not go to the polls, if you do not advocate to people who can vote to go to the polls, somebody is going and they are making decisions for you. Now, if you believe somebody else can make a better decision for your life and for your future than you, then sit it out. But if you believe you are the best judge of the way that this country needs to go, then you've got to be in the ring. You've got to be engaged. You have to participate."

Catch "Chew's Views with Richard Chew” weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/chews-views).

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