By Isabella McHugh
Staff Writer
The United States National Guard crowded the city of Memphis, Tennessee for an operation launched by President Donald Trump to crack down on crime rates. A Tennessee judge had something to say about it, according to Action News 5.
Governor Bill Lee had the troops sent to the city on Oct. 10th courtesy of Trump’s task force he set up a month prior, according to News Channel 3.
It isn’t confirmed how many individuals from the National Guard were stationed in Memphis, however it is estimated to be close to 700.
Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal said on Nov. 17 that it was unlawful for Governor Bill Lee to deploy the National Guard. The crime rates, she stated, were neither a “grave emergency” nor a “disaster” enough to send troops to the city Reuters reported.
This decision aligned with the Democratic state and local officials who sued the Governor. This put the National Guard to a temporary halt, according to the Tennessee Lookout.
She agreed with the plaintiffs that it is likely the action violated the “terms and conditions of Tennessee’s Military Code,” wrote the Tennessee Lookout.
Among the plaintiffs were “Mayor Harris, Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley, Shelby Co. Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and Henri Brooks, State Representatives G.A. Hardaway and Gabby Salinas, and State Senator Jeff Yarbro,” wrote Action News 5.
A White House Spokesperson responded to this ruling stating that the task force “removed countless dangerous criminals off the streets” and that deploying the National Guard was “necessary” to keeping the city safe according to Action News 5.
Joshua Salzman, senior counsel with Democracy Forward Foundation agrees with the Judge’s stance, believing the Governor’s actions were against the law.
He regarded the Judge’s decision stating, “It recognizes that the residents of Memphis have a strong public interest in not being subjected to domestic military occupation for law enforcement purposes under circumstances where it’s not statutorily authorized.” He said on News Channel 3, “We’re incredibly gratified that Judge Moskal recognized and affirmed that principle.”
In Trump’s second term he has continuously pushed the military deeper into domestic affairs in an effort to enhance public safety, stifle protests and essentially lay more of an iron fist on crime in the U.S., NPR reported.
However, this method is controversial and potentially unlawful when determining which cases are necessary for taking this extreme action and when it crosses the line.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harri responded to the judge blocking the National Guard. In his response, he criticized President Trump’s plan which initiated the military engagement.
“There’s no clear reason why the National Guard was sent to town,” the Mayor said “… except to comply with the orders of Donald Trump,” News Channel 3 reported.
In News Channel 3 Harris said that the state of Tennessee owed Shelby County “tens of millions of dollars” since they are providing shelter to those arrested by the task force. “You can’t break the law in the name of trying to tame lawlessness.”
