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Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
The success of the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) over the past year has led many city residents to offer praise of the operation, putting them at odds with the Democrat District Attorney who is fighting state oversight and leftist city council members planning to formally ask the task force to leave.
Reporting over 12,000 arrests and the rescue of almost 200 missing children since its deployment, the MSTF has helped substantially lower crime across the board in Memphis and Shelby County, an effort that has not gone unnoticed by many locals who have spent years voicing unanswered pleas to local leaders to address the out-of-control crime.
Dalisia Ballinger, a Memphis mother, said the crackdown on crime through the federal agencies has finally silenced constant gunshots and allowed her children to enjoy simple pleasures like playing outside.
“For once, I’m walking to my mailbox and it’s quiet,” Ballinger told the media. “I’m hearing the birds chirp. I’m hearing the birds sing. I’m seeing children play in the middle of the street. I’m seeing fathers playing football.”
“We’ve been begging for years for our local leaders for assistance and for help,” she added. “My children deserve peace, and with the Memphis Safe Task Force being here, we’ve finally been able to get that peace.”
Ballinger is a former journalist who was reportedly fired for posting content supporting President Trump’s efforts and who also experienced some of the city’s rampant violent crime problems firsthand following a drive-by shooting that left a bullet lodged in her wall. She has been one of the staunchest supporters of the MSTF as she witnessed the remarkable turnaround of the city.
But this position has put Ballinger, and countless other residents like her, in conflict with local leaders including the District Attorney and members of the city council who continue insisting the federal task force and any state oversight of its operations is governmental overreach to be fought.
DA Steve Mulroy, who has become notorious for his soft-on-crime policies, has filed suit against new state oversight bills, one which requires his office to file reports with the General Assembly on dismissed or settled task force cases every 10 days and another that permits the state to audit Mulroy’s charges related to the task force.
Mulroy contends the laws are unconstitutional while the state maintains the oversight is well within the legislative body’s authority.
And an online petition launched by the nonprofit National Police Association demanding the DA abandon his legal fight and disclose how his office handles task force-related cases has reached over 10,000 signatures.
Ballinger and other supporters agree the task force’s arrests mean little if prosecutors later reduce or dismiss cases without explanation. “Public safety should not be up for debate. I don’t care if you are a Republican. I don’t care if you are a Democrat,” she stressed.
But that nonpolitical stance does not seem to extend to other local officials, as Memphis City Councilwomen Yolanda Cooper-Sutton and Michalyn Easter-Thomas announced their intention to introduce a resolution formally asking task force members to leave the city.
The move was spurred by a recent ICE raid at a local nightclub that resulted in the arrest of over 120 illegal aliens.
Activists and family members of some of those arrested expressed their displeasure about the operation to the council last week, many speaking in Spanish which was then translated by an interpreter.
The resolution is expected to be presented at the next full council meeting, but Gov. Bill Lee said last week he doesn’t foresee any agencies, specifically in relation to National Guard troops, vacating their posts in the immediate future.
“We don’t have any reason to believe there is any imminent change in that partnership with the federal government,” Lee said. “I’m incredibly proud in what’s happening there, the best crime statistics in Memphis in 25 years.”
Sources:
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Memphis is an incredibly dangerous place. Don’t go there unless you must, and if you go there watch your back and carry a gun. It is NOT like other TN cities.
Here’s one example > A famous rapper from Memphis named MoneyBagg Yo wrote a song in 2021 named “Memphganistan” and in 2024 it was made into a movie. Memphis is so dangerous that he moved to Atlanta in 2022 to escape the violence in Memphis after his friend Big Nuskie was murdered.
If you want to read more, go to https://tennesseeconservativenews.com/memphis-stories-memphis-is-incredibly-dangerous-dont-go-there-but-if-you-must-stay-alert-and-watch-for-killers/