Memphis Democrats Pondering “Legal Options” For Impending National Guard Deployment

Image Credit: Tennessee National Guard / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

With President Trump’s formal creation of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which includes the deployment of National Guard troops to the city, local Democrats are scrambling to find legal footholds to challenge both the federal administration and Gov. Bill Lee who is helping coordinate between federal agencies and state authorities for the mission.

During a Sept. 18 press conference, several members of the Memphis city council announced they are exploring legal avenues to prevent the deployment but are not entirely sure what that might look like given there is still not an exact time frame for the mission’s commencement.

“These are Yale, Harvard, and NYU-trained lawyers, specifically in constitutional law,” said Councilwoman Jerri Green. “We are looking at absolutely every avenue, but it’s going to depend. ‘Cause let me tell you, every day it changes… Every time I turn around, Bill Lee says something different. I have to wait until they get here and they start terrorizing our community before I can talk to you about what challenges we can make, whether it’ll be on the state level or the federal level, and what laws we will file under.”

Green, who is running on the Democrat ticket for Tennessee Governor, further stated that she and other supporting council members will be introducing a resolution during the Memphis City Council Sept. 23 meeting formally requesting the Governor not to send the guard. The resolution claims the council “does not find that the circumstances currently meet the threshold outlined in the Tennessee code to enlist our troops into service,” and cites the increasingly questionable “25-year low” crime rates in the city.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee is also “working through the legal implications” of the deployment and is “coordinating” with local leaders to “protect residents’ constitutional rights.”

Claire Gardner, the ACLU of Tennessee’s community engagement director, said during the press conference, “We are demanding that President Trump and Gov. Bill Lee stop this planned military occupation of Memphis. But if they fail to listen to reason, then the ACLU of Tennessee will consider every legal option available. We will be prepared. We will not be scared.”

And immigration attorneys defending illegals are wondering if the Task Force will impact the new ICE facility in Mason, which is roughly 45 miles northeast of Memphis. Attorney Andrew Rankin believes the facility may “fill up with the enforcement-heavy mentality.”

With overcrowding issues at the Shelby County jail, the ICE facility is also reportedly in consideration to be used for overflow with the anticipated increased arrests of the Task Force. “So then the question becomes, ‘Ok, what happens when that facility is full?’ Because as we have seen, there are a lot of overcrowding concerns with these immigration jails across the country,” said Rankin. 

On the other side, the Republican Party of Shelby County held their own press conference just after the Democrats last Thursday and took the opportunity to express their appreciation and excitement for the National Guard’s presence to restore law and order.

The crowd was comprised of elected officials, residents, business owners, and local celebrities like Judge Joe Brown. “Local yokels had an embarrassingly stupid press conference where they objected to the Nat’l Guard coming to restore Law & Order. Pathetic charlatans- incapable & incompetent to do their job. Seems these bozos want the people to suffer the worst U.S. crime rate,” wrote the former prosecutor about the dueling Democrat presser.

Many attendees waved American flags and held signs with slogans like, “The National Guard is welcome in my hood,” “Make Memphis Safe Again,” and, “Support Law & Order.” 

State Senator Brent Taylor spoke to the crowd, addressing the city councilors’ pursuit of legal actions. “If the City Council worked as hard to fight crime as they are fighting Donald Trump bringing federal resources to Memphis, we wouldn’t have to have the National Guard here in the first place,” he declared.

He also spoke to the expected role of the troops, saying he does not believe their primary function will be law enforcement, but support and administrative functions. He proposes they may “get out on the streets, fighting crimes” by performing tasks like securing crime scenes or working intake at the jail. 

“I don’t think there’s any scenario where you’re going to have National Guardsmen making arrests and transporting people down to 201 Poplar, reading Miranda Rights, that is still going to be left up to law enforcement,” Taylor said. “They’re going to play support and logistical roles that will serve as a force multiplier for the police department.”

“Our #MakeMemphisMatter movement has grown from Shelby County, to the State Capitol, to the Oval Office. And we can’t let up! Tonight we made a statement that we welcome the help and are determined to save our city,” Taylor later posted to social media.

Also in attendance at the conference was Republican Rep. John Gillespie who joined his “fellow Memphians to welcome the National Guard to our city. I believe this is exactly what we need to crack down on out-of-hand crime that has been affecting our communities.”

While there is still no firm timeline for the National Guard’s arrival, Sen. Taylor said he anticipates the troops and other resources designated by the Memphis Safe Task Force towards the end of the month.

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.