Justin Pearson to speak after recent ban from city council meetings
State Rep. Justin Pearson and local organizers held a press conference after being barred from attending two Memphis City Council meetings. They are challenging the bans in court, which could prevent them from attending an upcoming meeting where the council is scheduled to consider a data center moratorium.
State Rep. Justin Pearson and local organizers held a press conference in Memphis after Memphis City Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington barred Pearson and others from the next two council meetings. The bans followed an Oct. 6 meeting where council members delayed action on a proposed data center moratorium and disorder broke out among attendees, including protests and a fight in the lobby.
Pearson, community activist KeShaun Pearson and activist LJ Abraham are challenging the bans in a lawsuit. The plaintiffs say the restrictions violate their rights and may have been politically motivated, while city attorney Allan Wade said the council chair had authority under the council's procedures to bar disruptive attendees. The lawsuit seeks to allow them to attend the Oct. 20 meeting, when a vote on the data center moratorium is scheduled.