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John DeBerry
John Deberry (13785717745) (1).jpg
Senior Advisor to the Governor of Tennessee
Assumed office
December 1, 2020
Governor Bill Lee
Preceded by Brandon Gibson
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 90th district
In office
January 1995 – January 12, 2021
Preceded by Karen R. Williams
Succeeded by Torrey Harris
Personal details
Born (1951-02-05) February 5, 1951 (age 74)
Political party Democratic
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2020)
Relatives Marquita Bradshaw (niece)
Education Freed–Hardeman University
University of Memphis

John J. DeBerry Jr. (born February 5, 1951) is an American pastor and politician. He served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for many years. This is a group of people who make laws for the state of Tennessee. He represented District 90 from 1995 to 2021. John DeBerry was a member of the Democratic Party. However, he held some different views from many in his party. For example, he believed in protecting unborn babies. In 2020, the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, asked him to become a special advisor.

Early Life and Education

John DeBerry studied at two universities. He graduated from Freed–Hardeman University. He also attended the University of Memphis. These schools helped him prepare for his career.

His Time in Politics

John DeBerry spent a long time working in the Tennessee government. He was a state representative for 26 years. This means he helped make laws for the people in his district.

Why He Left the Democratic Party

In May 2020, something unusual happened. The leaders of the Tennessee Democratic Party decided to remove John DeBerry from their list of candidates. This meant he could not run for office as a Democrat anymore. The vote was 41 to 18.

One reason for this decision was his views on certain topics. His belief in protecting unborn babies was a big factor. DeBerry felt it was unfair. He said that people in his district, not a committee, should decide who represents them. After this, he decided to run for office as an Independent. This means he ran without being part of a major political party.

Speaking Out on Protests

On August 1, 2020, John DeBerry gave an important speech. He spoke in the Tennessee General Assembly, which is where state laws are made. Lawmakers were talking about a new law. This law would make punishments stronger for people who caused violence during protests.

During his speech, DeBerry talked about protests happening in cities like Portland and Seattle. He explained that violence and property damage hurt the cause of protests. He believed that protests should remain peaceful to be successful.

He shared stories from his own family's past. They were involved in the Civil Rights Movement many years ago. He remembered a time when laws forced him to use separate entrances and drink from "colored" water fountains. He also went to schools that were only for Black children. He said the Civil Rights Movement succeeded because it was peaceful. It had strong values and common sense.

Working with the Governor

On November 30, 2020, Governor Bill Lee made an announcement. He said that John DeBerry would join his team. DeBerry became a special advisor to the Governor. He started this new job on December 1, 2020. In this role, he helps the Governor with important decisions.

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