NAACP demands end of Trump's anticrime taskforce in Memphis after deaths of Black men
Following the deaths of two Black men in Tennessee, the NAACP has called for the suspension of Trump's Memphis Safe Task Force and a federal investigation.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has demanded the immediate suspension of the so-called Memphis Safe Task Force, Donald Trump's anti-crime alliance of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The call comes after the deaths of two Black men in Tennessee.
In a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Friday, the NAACP also demanded "a thorough, transparent federal investigation" into the task force's actions, which it says has surged federal and military officers into Memphis with insufficient training for civilian policing.
Tyrin Johnson, a 20-year-old new father, was shot and killed by two Tennessee National Guard troops in an early morning incident on Sunday. Two days earlier, the body of Darius Chappell, a 34-year-old father of three young sons, was discovered in a cell at the Montgomery County jail. Chappell had been taken into custody on June 29 after what police described as a "use of force" incident in Clarksville. Video of his violent arrest shows a police dog appearing to bite him while he was held down by several officers.
Authorities have released few details. In Johnson's case, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) claimed he had a handgun and fired shots. The Clarksville police department has launched an investigation into the use of the dog and placed an officer on administrative leave.
The task force was established by Trump executive order last year as part of his push to reduce crime in Democratic-run cities. It has been linked to at least four deaths this year.
The NAACP letter noted that it is aware of the TBI investigation into Johnson's death but said it is "not enough," especially given conflicting reports. Regarding Chappell, the letter pointed out that no officers have been charged and no official cause of death has been issued. It demanded transparency about the force used and medical care provided.
Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO, said the organization seeks "transparency to affected communities and full accountability and justice." He added, "The Department of Justice cannot continue to stand by while Black lives are taken."
A NAACP survey of Memphis residents found that 63% strongly disapproved of the National Guard deployment, and 54% believed it had significantly undermined safety and trust.
