Memphis residents at odds over looming National Guard deployment

Many Memphis, Tennessee residents are cut up over President Donald Trump’s approval to deploy the National Guard to battle crime within the metropolis.

On Monday, President Trump signed a memorandum establishing the “Memphis Safe Task Force” to handle crime in Memphis. The process drive consists of the National Guard, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee stated the duty drive will “speed up the constructive momentum” of “Operation Viper,” an ongoing FBI mission that Lee says has led to the arrest of lots of of violent criminals since July.

“We’ve made important investments to handle crime all through my seven years in workplace, and because of President Trump’s management, the Memphis Safe Task Force will guarantee now we have each useful resource at our disposal to create important change,” Lee stated. 

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee joined President Trump within the Oval Office to ascertain the “Memphis Safe Task Force.” (Fox News)

Lee additionally approved greater than 100 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to assist native regulation enforcement in Shelby County.

Memphis has the best crime price within the United States, and a few residents stated federal intervention may very well be the one technique to carry it down rapidly.

“I simply really feel like their presence could deter some. It’s not going to do a complete lot, I do not suppose, however I imply, something will assist,” Angela Dowdy, a Memphis resident, stated. 

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Memphis Mayor Paul Young stated a National Guard deployment isn’t crucial, citing a downward pattern in crime up to now yr.

“I wish to be clear: I didn’t ask for the National Guard and I don’t suppose it’s the technique to drive down crime,” Young posted to X.

Memphis reported a 23% drop in Part 1 crimes from 2024 to 2025. The FBI defines Part 1 crimes as prison murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, housebreaking, larceny, motorized vehicle theft, arson and human trafficking.

Memphis mayor Paul Young used the town’s declining crime as justification {that a} National Guard deployment will not be crucial within the metropolis.  (Fox News)

Dr. George Campbell, a Memphis resident, stated he hopes native leaders might use this as a chance to take recommendation from the feds. 

“[W]e have to have all of the people in workplace actually involved about making a distinction within the metropolis and never simply put of their pockets or from a political sense, simply politics,” Campbell stated. 

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Memphis enterprise proprietor Joe Morrow stated “crime is unhealthy for enterprise.” With massive firms like Google and xAI constructing information facilities within the space, Morrow stated one thing nonetheless should be performed to resolve the town’s crime.

However, Morrow questions whether or not a National Guard deployment is the reply to fixing the town’s lingering crime. 

“We’ve bought regulation enforcement right here already. We’ve bought state troopers that they’ve despatched in. We have the FBI right here. Different issues. The National Guard is simply one other type of regulation enforcement,” Morrow stated. “Deployment comes with orders. What are the orders that they’ve after they’re coming right here? Am I going to be checked out… as a human being? Or am I one thing on the checklist of deployment that may be a goal or a risk? Which I’m not.”

Some Memphis residents suppose the police division, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and FBI are successfully combating crime.  (Fox News)

Michael Kuntzman, a Memphis bar supervisor, was additionally involved {that a} National Guard presence would harm the town’s nightlife that his bar depends on. 

“I feel having a present of drive like that may undoubtedly have an effect on nightlife, the place individuals will not be out if there are shiny lights and National Guard in camo in all places,” Kuntzman stated. “I do know, I’ll be on the home if that is the case.”

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Trump a number of weeks in the past threatened to ship the National Guard to Chicago however was met with sturdy resistance from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Trump insisted on Tuesday that Chicago is the National Guard’s subsequent cease.