Memphis is occupied by stormtroopers, the internet is silent
Memphis Is “Under Full-Blown Occupation” by ICE. Here’s Why You May Not Know That.
>Hunter Demster, who runs a soup kitchen in the city, has been trying to get the word out. He often drives around with his phone, looking for officers to film as they arrest immigrants. There are more than 2,700 officers stationed in the city as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force; some are from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); others are from other law enforcement agencies and the National Guard. None particularly want to be photographed.
>Which means that Demster is facing blowback for trying to document them. So are other community members doing the same thing. Officers have taunted them, shined bright lights at them, and followed them in their cars. One community member was assaulted and jailed for trying to film. Now, they’re suing, with help from the ACLU, which argues that agents are engaged in a pattern of intimidation and retaliation that hampers their First Amendment rights to record the police.
>The lawsuit was filed last week against leaders of the task force, and it’s a harrowing read—dozens of pages of examples. Demster, for one, recalls an officer driving quickly as he stood in a parking lot and then swerving toward him, missing him by inches. Another plaintiff was “bumper-rushed” by police while driving—they came up behind him so quickly that it appeared a collision was imminent, before hitting the brakes at the last second.Hunter Demster, who runs a soup kitchen in
the city, has been trying to get the word out. He often drives around
with his phone, looking for officers to film as they arrest immigrants.
There are more than 2,700 officers stationed in the city as part of the
Memphis Safe Task Force; some are from the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS); others are from other law enforcement agencies and the
National Guard. None particularly want to be photographed.
“My family still has a lot of fear and worry
anytime I leave the house alone.”
>Which means that Demster is facing
blowback for trying to document them. So are other community members
doing the same thing. Officers have taunted them, shined bright lights
at them, and followed them in their cars. One community member was
assaulted and jailed for trying to film. Now, they’re suing, with help
from the ACLU, which argues that agents are engaged in a pattern of
intimidation and retaliation that hampers their First Amendment rights
to record the police.
>The lawsuit was filed last week against leaders of the task force, and it’s a harrowing read—dozens of pages of examples.
Demster, for one, recalls an officer driving quickly as he stood in a
parking lot and then swerving toward him, missing him by inches. Another
plaintiff was “bumper-rushed” by police while driving—they came up
behind him so quickly that it appeared a collision was imminent, before
hitting the brakes at the last second.