Memphis residents sue over conduct of Trump-backed task force
Four plaintiffs claim First Amendment violations by the Memphis Safe Task Force, which has conducted 120,000 traffic stops since its launch in September.
Four residents of Memphis, Tennessee, have filed a lawsuit alleging harassment and retaliation by the Memphis Safe Task Force, a law enforcement initiative established by President Donald Trump. The complaint, lodged on Wednesday, accuses agents of intimidating and threatening bystanders who recorded enforcement activities, claiming these actions constitute violations of First Amendment rights.
The task force was launched in September at the invitation of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and involves Tennessee State Troopers, the Tennessee National Guard, and agents from 13 federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to the lawsuit, the coalition has conducted approximately 120,000 traffic stops in the city, which has a population of nearly 610,000 and is majority-Black.
The complaint names Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, heads of ICE and DHS, and the leader of the Tennessee Highway Patrol as defendants. It details specific incidents of intimidation, including government vehicles swerving at activists monitoring operations. Plaintiff Hunter Demster alleges he was surrounded by agents after filming a traffic stop and informing drivers of their right not to speak to police, describing the experience as terrifying despite his lawful conduct.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing the plaintiffs. Senior staff attorney Scarlet Kim stated that recording publicly visible law enforcement is a core First Amendment right. She noted that residents in Memphis, like those in other cities such as Minneapolis and Chicago, have sought to document the influx of law enforcement officers into their communities.
The US Department of Justice has denied the allegations, stating it strongly disagrees with the claims. In a statement on Wednesday, the department affirmed its commitment to fair, impartial, and professional law enforcement practices to keep Memphians and the American people safe. The lawsuit comes amid a broader pattern of crackdowns in left-leaning cities under Trump’s second term, which have faced criticism regarding civil liberties and the deployment of federal forces.
