Image Credit: Tennessee National Guard / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Despite protest from Democrat leaders in the city and across the state, many restaurants, business owners, and residents in Memphis are preparing to welcome the National Guard with open arms, anticipating a new sense of security and safety the troops will bring.
In a display of Southern hospitality, numerous restaurants are offering free or discounted meals to Guard members soon to be in Memphis, with many seeing this as an opportunity for the community to show support and gratitude for the administration’s attention to their calls for help.
Elwood’s Shack, a well-known local barbecue joint, will offer a free barbecue sandwich to any uniformed Guard member on deployment. “I have armed security seven days a week, and it’s unbelievable what happens every day in front of my restaurant,” said owner Tim Bednarski. He solidly believes the Guard will make a difference, “Without a doubt. Anything will help.”
The Rum Boogie Café is “proud to support our servicemen and women,” and will be providing a “complementary pulled pork sandwich with a side” to all deployed troops. “Thank you for your service- it’s our honor to serve you!”
Mortimer’s owner Christoper Jamieson said his establishment will offer National Guard members a free lunch plate, “just to say thank you for helping with the crime issue.”
He also relayed the impacts of rising crime on local businesses, stating that fewer people are out and about, meaning patronage of businesses and restaurants has decreased. “As far as the night time, we’ve closed earlier and earlier and earlier because there’s no traffic on the streets,” Jamieson said.
Mike Miller, owner of Patrick’s Restaurant in East Memphis, believes the federal task force is, “an opportunity for us and for our city, I hope we make the most of it.”
And restauranteurs aren’t the only ones extending thanks. Memphis residents and other business owners have been expressing their appreciation and anticipation for the President’s decisive action to address the area’s exceptionally high crime rates.
“It’s just so dangerous that you can’t get out of your car. You can’t go to the grocery store. You can’t go to the market or the service station. So, yeah, I want to see the crime stop- and if the National Guard is going to stop the crime, bring them on,” one resident said.
“There’s a need for more boots on the ground,” stated Durell Cowen, Director of Heal 901, a Memphis organization which focuses heavily on violence prevention, especially in youth populations.
A local tax service business owner said her business is, “grateful for the National Guard coming. As far as crime, that’s more affecting us than immigration.”
Yet Democrat leaders continue to decry the federal action as “political theater” and “abuse of power”, putting them at odds with a constituency gladly embracing the upcoming deployment.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young appears to have resigned himself to the Guards’ presence, stating that while he does not believe the troops’ presence is the solution to the city’s crime problems, he has committed to “work strategically to ensure this happens in a way that truly benefits and strengthens our community.”
President Trump signed the federal memorandum directing the National Guard, ICE, and other agencies to Memphis on Monday, Sept. 15, though the document did not specify an official start date of the mission.
“The effort will include the National Guard as well as the FBI, ATF, DEA, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations and the US Marshals,” Trump said.
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.
4 Responses
I suspect it will be like the National Guard occupation of DC. They WON’T be going into high-crime neighborhoods. They WON’T be intervening in gang warfare. Nope, that would be too scary. What they WILL be doing is maintaining a visible presence in high traffic areas, posing for photos with tourists, and maybe being put on trash detail.
The better folks there are welcoming them. It’s WAAY better’n what’s been happening.
But you’re too thick to see that.
MEMPHIS (The Borowitz Report)—Abandoning their customary black vests and masks, ICE agents have gone undercover in Memphis, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Wednesday.
Noem defended her department’s expenditure of $85,000 to outfit the agents in sequined jumpsuits, arguing that such a disguise was necessary for ICE to blend into the population inconspicuously.
Issuing a stern warning to the city of Memphis, Noem declared, “If I see something that appears to be nothing but a hound dog, I will shoot it.”
Here’s a solution. Since you are bear and a polish one at that. How about you roam the streets of Memphis. I bet that all the criminals would run at the sight of bear and a polish one at that. And all the crime in Memphis would magically disappear. Then there wouldn’t need to be any police presence of any kind. Problem solved. That’s if you have the courage to do that.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.