Faith leaders demand end to Memphis Safe Task Force as one-year mark approaches

Faith leaders across Tennessee are intensifying their calls for the immediate termination of the Memphis Safe Task Force, as the one-year mark of its operations approaches. The task force, which has been deployed to Memphis under federal authority, has become a focal point of controversy and concern for many in the community.

Over the weekend, the Tennessee Unitarian Universalist Community Action Network (TUUCAN), UU the Vote, and the Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH) hosted the 2026 Solidarity Summit. This gathering brought together faith leaders from across the state at the Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church in Cordova. The event included days of training and organizing, culminating in a public demonstration at the National Civil Rights Museum.

The choice of Memphis as the summit’s location was deliberate, as organizers emphasized the city’s ongoing presence of the Memphis Safe Task Force. The task force has been referred to by many as the “Memphis Unsafe Task Force,” reflecting the community’s perception of its impact. Rev. Sarah Osborne, Minister of Pastoral Care and Director of Religious Exploration at Neshoba UU Church, stated, “We’re coming up along the one-year anniversary of the occupation of Memphis. We’ve seen so many of the beloved immigrant families that are being disrupted from their family lives, fatalities… it’s just making things really unsafe.”

Faith leaders have pointed to the task force’s arrest and enforcement data, arguing that its operations are fostering fear and harming citizens rather than promoting safety. Organizers highlighted six civilian deaths linked directly to task force pursuits and operations over the past nine months. These incidents have been used to underscore the perceived negative consequences of the task force’s presence.

Advocates also cited analysis from Smart City Memphis, which estimated that deploying the National Guard to patrol Memphis will cost $319 million by the end of the year. This figure, according to organizers, does not include the operating costs of deployed federal agencies or state troopers. The analysis suggests that the financial burden of the task force’s operations may not be justified by its impact on violent crime rates.

Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson, who spoke at the National Civil Rights Museum, described the enforcement as devastating for Memphis neighborhoods. He noted the task force has caused significant trauma and terror, with hundreds of thousands of people being stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and several deaths resulting from its operations. These experiences have led to the separation of hundreds of families and a deepening sense of mistrust within the community.

The concerns raised by faith leaders and advocates align with the biblical call to seek justice and care for the vulnerable. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The call for an end to the Memphis Safe Task Force reflects a commitment to these principles, emphasizing the need for accountability, compassion, and the restoration of trust within the community.

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