What to know about National Guard, federal forces in Memphis
When the National Guard troops arrive, they will act as “eyes and ears” for other federal and local law enforcement, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said.
Topic: National Guard
RSSThere are 33 article(s) tagged National Guard:
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November 2025
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Guest Column: ‘Living in Memphis means choosing life over fear’
“We can’t let people who don’t actually live in Memphis tell us how terrible our own city is. ... Yes, there’s risk here – but there’s also rhythm, resilience and beauty.”
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Federal task force fighting crime — and finding missing kids
While fighting crime is the bulk of its work, the task force has notably been publicizing another statistic: the number of missing children it has located.
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October 2025
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Hegseth orders the military to provide attorneys for Memphis, border
This week’s memo says the Justice Department asked for 20 lawyers to help support its offices in Memphis, where the National Guard has been deployed by President Donald Trump.
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Table Talk: Heard it through the (National Guard) grapevine
When it comes to finding out what’s happening in our communities, there’s often no way to know without actually contacting folks and asking them how they are doing.
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National Guard sparks restaurant boycotts — and support campaigns
Over a month ago, Elwood’s Shack posted on social media that the East Memphis restaurant would give any member of the National Guard a free barbecue sandwich — pulled pork, brisket or chicken.
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Guard’s impact hits some restaurants hard — and some not at all
“We’ve been deeply affected in a very negative way by everything that’s happening,” said the general manager of a local restaurant who is encouraging Memphians to support other small businesses. “The sales have dropped like 60% or 70% in the last 15 days.”
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Memphis wasn’t asked to join National Guard lawsuit, Harris says
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and leaders of other groups seeking to stop the National Guard deployment in Memphis say the city was never offered an option to join their lawsuit.
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Calkins: It was a surreal night on Beale Street — and everything Penny Hardaway dreamed
What do you get when you combine Penny Hardaway, Beale Street, Memphis Pom, the FBI and the National Guard? A night of Memphis basketball that seemed like a dream.
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Letter to the Editor: We don’t need military occupation. We need poverty eradication.
“That jail was already overcrowded; today it holds 800 people over capacity. Incarceration is not the solution.”
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How Boss Crump stared down a governor’s threat to send the National Guard to Memphis
Memphians may be intrigued to learn what happened in 1938 in a world where Memphis stood largely united against a National Guard deployment, behind a self-assured leader with a powerful political organization and friends in Washington, D.C.
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Memphis guard deployment could last into 2026, defense secretary says
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could authorize the use of up to 1,000 Tennessee National Guard troops for a whole year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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Memphis NAACP wants ‘investment ... not occupation’
The NAACP Memphis Chapter held an event Friday to discuss concerns about the deployment of federal law enforcement agents in Memphis.
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Opinion: Why I support the Memphis Safe Task Force
There are many who believe additional support to our local law enforcement is a good thing.
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Memphis Safe Task Force has made 53 arrests, US Attorney General says
“We’re coming in with all of our federal agents, and we are going to charge them federally whenever possible. We’re going to keep them in federal custody,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
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September 2025
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First National Guard deployments expected within 2 weeks, MPD chief says
Chief C.J. Davis said the Memphis Safe Task Force is still evolving and the Memphis Police Department is still learning information every day.
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In a city plagued by crime rate, leaders hope Memphis Safe Task Force can shift the narrative
In detailing specifics of the Memphis Safe Task Force, Gov. Bill Lee didn’t dwell on the city’s crime rate. Instead, flanked by Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis, he pledged that the crime reduction that could come would be lengthy and sustainable.
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Conaway: There is a plan, and it’s a good one
“Elevate Memphis as a national model: Use this moment of federal attention to highlight Memphis-led solutions as a case study in how cities can reduce crime and strengthen communities without losing their identity.”
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Grandpa and the National Guard: A Memphis comedian goes viral
Zach Williams has hit comedy gold with his online clips about Grandpa, a National Guard veteran remembering his time in the Bluff City, and a bunch of Memphis-centric inside jokes.
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Reporters explore National Guard questions, remember Les Smith
WKNO’s “Behind the Headlines” remembered Smith, who died Sept. 17, for his early contributions to the show. The reporter’s roundtable edition also discussed the pending National Guard deployment to Memphis.
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President Trump creates ‘Memphis Safe Task Force’
“This task force will be a replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts here (in Washington D.C.), and you’ll see it’s a lot of the same thing (in Memphis),” the president said.
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Competing rallies demonstrate partisan divide over National Guard deployment
Opponents of an “occupation” by National Guard troops in the city and Republicans backing the arrival of the Guard both rallied to their cause Thursday in the city.
See The Daily Memphian’s full coverage of the Memphis Safe Task Force
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Memphis task force ‘evolving,’ local leaders say
The state National Guard is also being sent to Memphis, although exactly what its job will be and where they will be deployed remain some of the biggest unanswered questions.
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Memphis-area leaders take to national airwaves to talk National Guard
A “threat to democracy” vs. making Memphis “the most safe city in America,” area leaders give their thoughts on what the National Guard deployment can mean for the city.
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National Guard not needed in Memphis, former police director says
Buddy Chapman led the police department in 1978, when the National Guard came as police and fire strikes left the city burning. This time, he says, it’s different.
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