“Today was a powerful day and a testament to people power,” reinstated Rep. Justin Jones said Monday.

Jones, along with former Rep. Justin Pearson, was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday after the two of them and fellow Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, staged a demonstration on the floor calling for gun reform and leading chants with a bullhorn.

On Monday, he returned to the legislature after a unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council. Tennessee law allows local legislative bodies to appoint interim members to fill the seats of expelled lawmakers until an election is held.

Jones said being expelled and reinstated made him understand that “we need more representatives who are willing to risk a title to be with the people, to stand with the people. We need bold leadership.”

Now that he’s back in office, Jones was told he can file 15 bills – as he’s now technically a new member – which he said he plans to do by the end of the week.

Jones added, noting he’s 27 years old: “It’s time for a new generation of voices to step into their power here,” describing it as a movement to transform the community and the nation with “a new vision of a multicultural democracy.”