Lawmakers file suit against TN governor over Guard deployment in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several local and state lawmakers filed suit Friday against Gov. Bill Lee challenging the deployment of Tennessee National Guard troops in Memphis.

The lawsuit, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, “asserts that Governor Lee’s unilateral
deployment violates both the Tennessee Constitution and state law, which clearly limit the
Governor’s power to use the National Guard as a domestic police force.”

The suit was filed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Memphis City Councilman J.B. Smiley, County Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and Henri Brooks, State Representatives G.A. Hardaway and Gabby Salinas and State Senator Jeff Yarbro.

The Guard deployment was carried out at the request of President Donald Trump as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Harris has declared a local state of emergency in Shelby County for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare of Memphis residents.

Mayor Harris said local governments and law enforcement agencies have seen an increase in law enforcement activity and have been told to expect increased arrests at nearly 200% of current daily rates.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young said said there are currently about 700 federal agents and 150 National Guard members in the city as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

As of Thursday, the Department of Justice said the Memphis Safe Task Force had made nearly 1,000 arrests.

The task force has been in Memphis for more than two weeks. The National Guard arrived last Friday.

This story will be updated.