“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force – ProPublica

Report on the “Memphis Safe Task Force” and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A multi-agency law enforcement operation in Memphis, Tennessee, known as the “Memphis Safe Task Force,” was initiated to combat violent crime. However, reporting indicates its methods have had significant adverse effects on the local community, particularly minority populations. The operation’s tactics, including pretextual stops, alleged racial profiling, and intimidation, directly conflict with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report analyzes the task force’s impact on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), highlighting a divergence between the stated mission of enhancing safety and the actual outcomes for residents.

Introduction: The Memphis Safe Task Force

Following a presidential order for “hypervigilant policing,” the Memphis Safe Task Force was launched, involving the National Guard and approximately 30 other local, state, and federal agencies. The stated objective was to target and remove violent criminals from the streets of Memphis. Despite this focus, the operation has resulted in over 1,700 arrests, with a significant number of charges unrelated to violent crime. The methods employed have raised concerns among residents and civil rights organizations, particularly regarding the erosion of civil liberties and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.

Analysis of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The task force’s operations have undermined the principles of SDG 16, which calls for accountable and inclusive institutions and access to justice for all.

• Erosion of Institutional Accountability: Residents report encounters with heavily armed officers lacking identifying badges, making it difficult to demand accountability. The U.S. Marshals Service, leading the task force, does not track the racial demographics of individuals stopped or arrested, creating an opaque operational environment that hinders public oversight.
• Undermining the Rule of Law: The resurgence of “pretextual stops”—using minor traffic infractions as a pretext to search for more serious crimes—contradicts previous Department of Justice findings against the Memphis Police Department for unconstitutional practices. This tactic disproportionately targets residents for minor issues, rather than focusing on the stated goal of violent crime.
• Lack of Access to Justice: Incidents of residents being stopped and questioned without apparent cause, such as the case of Reggie Williams, create an environment where citizens fear law enforcement rather than see it as a source of justice and protection.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The operation appears to exacerbate existing inequalities, a direct contradiction to the aims of SDG 10.

• Racial and Ethnic Profiling: Numerous testimonies from Black and Hispanic residents suggest they are being disproportionately targeted. Incidents involving Reggie Williams, Alandria London, and Pastor ELaura James Reid indicate that race and perceived ethnicity may be factors in law enforcement stops.
• Disproportionate Impact on Immigrant Communities: Data from the first two weeks showed that one-fifth of arrests were immigration-related. Community organizations report a significant increase in calls to their hotlines and that Hispanic residents are altering their daily routines, including keeping children from school, out of fear of detainment.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The goal of making cities safe, inclusive, and resilient is compromised when law enforcement actions instill fear and disrupt community life.

• Diminished Sense of Safety: Despite the mission to make Memphis “safe,” many residents report feeling less safe due to intimidating police encounters. The presence of unmarked vehicles, heavily armed personnel, and indiscriminate stops has created a climate of fear.
• Exclusion and Disruption of Urban Life: Fear of police encounters has led residents to avoid public spaces and downtown businesses, prompting the city’s tourism agency to encourage people to return. This demonstrates a negative impact on the social and economic fabric of the city, undermining community inclusivity.

Key Incidents and Resident Testimonies

1. Reggie Williams: A 39-year-old Black artist was stopped, questioned, and searched by Memphis police and unidentified federal agents in body armor. He was questioned about his national origin and felt his life was in danger, highlighting issues of racial profiling and intimidation.
2. Alandria London: A Black ride-share driver was pulled over for an alleged seat belt violation she was not committing. She believes she was profiled, as an immigration van was present, suggesting the officer may have mistaken her ethnicity.
3. Pastor ELaura James Reid: A 49-year-old Black pastor was pulled over by an individual in an unmarked SUV, reportedly from the National Guard, for “driving unsure.” The encounter was perceived as baseless and intimidating, undermining trust in law enforcement.
4. Phillip Lewis: A 72-year-old man recovering from cancer was roused from his bed and marched out of his apartment in his underwear by officers in a case of mistaken identity. The incident caused significant distress and indignity.

Institutional Response and Data Transparency

The agencies involved have provided limited transparency regarding the task force’s operations.

• The U.S. Marshals Service, which leads the task force, disputed claims of racial profiling but did not respond to specific questions about resident encounters.
• The task force does not track crucial data, including the number of stops conducted or the racial demographics of those stopped or arrested, making it impossible to assess claims of bias empirically.
• An analysis of one day’s arrest records revealed that nearly three-quarters of those arrested were not charged with a violent crime, questioning the operation’s stated focus.

Conclusion

The “Memphis Safe Task Force,” while intended to reduce violent crime, has implemented strategies that conflict with the foundational principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. By fostering fear, exacerbating inequality, and undermining trust in public institutions, the operation’s methods challenge the development of a just, inclusive, and sustainable community. Achieving urban safety (SDG 11) requires building trust and ensuring justice and equality for all residents (SDG 16 and SDG 10), rather than tactics that alienate and intimidate the populace. A sustainable approach to crime reduction would prioritize community investment, violence interruption programs, and accountable, rights-respecting policing.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This is the most relevant SDG, as the article’s core theme is the implementation of a policing task force and its impact on justice, public safety, civil liberties, and the accountability of law enforcement institutions in Memphis.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article strongly suggests that the policing tactics are disproportionately affecting minority communities, specifically Black and Hispanic residents, thereby highlighting and exacerbating existing racial inequalities.
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The goal of creating safe and inclusive communities is central. The article explores how the policing strategy, intended to increase safety, is paradoxically making many residents feel unsafe and excluded from public life.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s narrative and data, several specific targets under the identified SDGs are relevant:

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The task force was created in response to violent crime, with the article noting Memphis “reported a record high of 428 homicides in 2023.” The entire operation is framed as an effort to achieve this target, although its methods and effectiveness are questioned.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article directly challenges whether this target is being met. Accounts of racial profiling, “indiscriminate and intimidating police encounters,” and pretextual stops suggest that access to justice is not equal. The experience of Reggie Williams, who is Black, being stopped and questioned without apparent reason, illustrates a potential failure in the equal application of the rule of law.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article highlights a significant lack of accountability and transparency. It states, “the task force does not track the number of stops… Nor does it track the racial demographics of the people stopped or arrested.” Furthermore, residents reported officers “patrolling without badges or uniforms that identify their agencies,” which undermines institutional accountability.
   • Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development. The central issue of racial profiling is a direct counterpoint to this target. Residents’ concerns about being “racially profiled and harassed” and the specific accounts of Black and Hispanic individuals feeling targeted indicate that enforcement practices are perceived as discriminatory.

   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. The article details discriminatory practices. The DOJ’s withdrawn report found Memphis police “treated Black residents more harshly than white ones.” The return of “pretextual stops,” which were previously banned by the city to curb such practices, points directly to a conflict over policies that create or reduce inequality in outcomes within the justice system.

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The article implies this target is being undermined. The fear generated by the heavy police presence has led residents to “steer clear of highly patrolled areas.” This resulted in the city’s tourism agency having to “encourage people to return to downtown restaurants, museums and other businesses,” showing a decline in the use of and feeling of safety in public spaces.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Homicide Rate (Indicator 16.1.1): The article provides a baseline figure: “a record high of 428 homicides in 2023.” This number serves as a direct indicator for measuring reductions in violence.
   • Proportion of Population that Feel Safe (Indicator 16.1.4): The article provides strong qualitative evidence for this indicator. Multiple residents, including Reggie Williams and Pastor ELaura James Reid, explicitly state they do not feel safe. The statement that “some Memphians say they don’t feel safe” directly relates to this measurement.
   • Data on Arrests and Crime Type: The article provides data showing “1,744 arrests as of Oct. 29” and an analysis that “nearly three quarters of the 51 people arrested Oct. 13 were not charged with a violent crime.” This data can be used as an indicator to assess whether law enforcement is focused on its stated goal (violent crime) or engaging in practices that may not align with justice promotion.
   • Lack of Disaggregated Data: The fact that the task force “does not track the racial demographics of the people stopped or arrested” is itself an indicator of a lack of transparency and accountability (Target 16.6). The existence and public availability of such data would be a key progress indicator.

   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Reports of Discrimination (Indicator 10.3.1): The personal testimonies of Reggie Williams, Alandria London, and Pastor ELaura James Reid serve as qualitative indicators of perceived discrimination based on race. Williams states, “If you’re not white, we’re just all going to be targeted.”

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Changes in Daily Patterns due to Fear: The article implies indicators of a lack of safety and inclusivity. It notes that “many Hispanic residents are changing their daily patterns for fear of being detained: Patients are skipping doctors’ appointments, and parents are keeping their children home from school.”
   • Hotline Call Volume: A quantifiable indicator of community fear is mentioned: Vecindarios 901, an immigrant resource organization, saw its daily call volume reporting law enforcement sightings increase from “about 15 calls and messages a day” to “around 120 per day.” This eightfold increase is a direct measure of heightened community anxiety.

Summary of Findings

Source: propublica.org