Gloria Johnson and the 'Tennessee Three' will speak at the Democratic National Convention

State Rep. Gloria Johnson, the Knoxville Democrat running for U.S. Senate, will join her Tennessee Three colleagues on stage at the Democratic National Convention.

Johnson said on X she will address the crowd the evening of Aug. 22, and state Rep. Justin Jones confirmed to CNN the group will speak about gun safety laws. The Tennessee Three will be on stage on a critical night, just before Vice President Kamala Harris' speech.

"I think we're lifting up a very critical issue that is very connected to my generation - the issue of gun violence. Last year we were expelled for fighting for common sense gun laws and the next day, Vice President Kamala Harris came to Tennessee, and stood in solidarity with us, calling for our fight for democracy, our fight for common sense gun laws to protect kids not guns," Jones told anchor Kaitlan Collins from the convention floor.

Johnson; Jones, of Nashville; and state Rep. Justin Pearson, of Memphis, rose to prominence in their protest against Tennessee's GOP supermajority in the aftermath of the 2023 deadly Covenant School shooting. Jones and Pearson, both Black men, were expelled but Johnson was not.

The expelled lawmakers easily won back their seats in special elections.

Johnson is using the momentum in her effort to unseat U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Johnson is simultaneously running to keep her seat in the state legislature. She faces no opposition in that race.

Johnson faces a tough fight against Blackburn's fundraising prowess and popularity.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Gloria Johnson and 'Tennessee Three' will speak at DNC