Former Democratic state Rep. Justin J. Pearson in Tennessee gave a sermon during an Easter service praying to the “Mother God,” calling for an end to gun violence and arguing that “transgender children” should receive the “health care” they need, according to recordings of the sermon.

Pearson was removed from his office in the Tennessee Legislature by a vote of 72 to 25 Friday for helping lead what state lawmakers dubbed an “insurrection” at the capitol during protests calling for gun control and trans rights following the Nashville school shooting a week prior. On Sunday, Pearson opened his sermon at the Church of the River in Memphis, Tennessee, by praying to the “Mother God” and asking for the preachers who had come before him to speak through his message.

Pearson also argued that the resurrection and persecution of Jesus should give hope to “persecuted people” who call for gun control and trans health care.

“If we just get this persecution over with then we won’t have to worry about folks talking about love and justice, we won’t have to worry about folks talking about freedom of speech or the right to protest what is right,” Pearson said. “They won’t have to worry about folks talking about advocating for people to get access to health care who are transgender children. … We won’t have to worry about these folks out here who are talking about ending gun violence, stopping the proliferation of weapons of war in our streets and communities.”

Later, an applause line on "healthcare" for "transgender children" pic.twitter.com/BWf2f9eJoM

— Woke Preacher Clips (@WokePreacherTV) April 10, 2023

The former state representative also called for an end to laws against abortion and “the need to end lynching as capital punishment,” according to the recording. Pearson’s expulsion from office came after elected officials condemned him pushing similar rhetoric during a massive protest at the state capitol where he used a bullhorn to call for gun control.

“The world is watching Tennessee because what is happening here today is a farce of democracy,” Jones said during his expulsion hearing. “I was not standing for myself, I was standing for my constituents … and I was standing for those young people … who are terrified by the continued trend of mass shootings plaguing our state and plaguing our station.”

Pearson did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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