John DeBerry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John DeBerry
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| Senior Advisor to the Governor of Tennessee | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Brandon Gibson |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 90th district |
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| In office January 1995 – January 12, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Karen R. Williams |
| Succeeded by | Torrey Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 5, 1951 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (2020) |
| Relatives | Marquita Bradshaw (niece) |
| Education | Freed–Hardeman University University of Memphis |
John J. DeBerry Jr. was born on February 5, 1951. He is an American pastor and politician. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1995 to 2021. He was a member of the Democratic Party. In 2020, Governor Bill Lee appointed him as a senior advisor.
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Learning and Education
John DeBerry studied at two universities. He graduated from Freed–Hardeman University. He also earned a degree from the University of Memphis.
Political Career Highlights
Leaving the Democratic Party
In May 2020, the Tennessee Democratic Party made a big decision. Its committee voted to remove John DeBerry from the primary election ballot. This happened after he had served for 26 years.
One committee member said DeBerry was not following "basic Democratic principles." DeBerry had different views on some social issues compared to many national Democrats.
DeBerry felt this was unfair. He said, "A tribunal took me off the ballot." He believed voters in his district should have made that choice.
Speaking Out During 2020 Protests
On August 1, 2020, John DeBerry gave an important speech. He spoke in the Tennessee General Assembly. Lawmakers were debating a new law. This law would increase penalties for people who committed violent acts during protests.
DeBerry's speech became very popular online. He talked about protests happening across the U.S. He said that protests would be more successful if they stayed peaceful.
He mentioned cities like Portland and Seattle. He explained that violence and property damage hurt the cause. He argued that people do not have the right to destroy public property.
DeBerry shared his own family's history. His family was involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-1900s. He remembered having to use separate entrances and water fountains. He also attended schools that were segregated by race.
He said the Civil Rights Movement succeeded because it was peaceful. He believed it had "integrity and class" and used "common sense and strong values."
Later Political Role
On November 30, 2020, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee made an announcement. He said John DeBerry would join his team as a special advisor. DeBerry started this new job on December 1, 2020.
Election History Summary
John DeBerry was first elected in 1994. He won many elections after that. Often, he ran without anyone opposing him in the Democratic primary. He also won general elections by a large number of votes.
In 2020, after being removed from the Democratic ballot, he ran as an independent candidate. He ran against Torrey Harris, a Democrat. In that election, DeBerry received 22.7% of the votes.
