Our city does not need military troops on our streets. Flooding neighborhoods with law enforcement does not make us safer; it only deepens distrust, escalates harm, and diverts resources away from the real solutions our communities need.

The data shows that crime is going down in Memphis — and that matters. But we know many people still don’t feel safe, and deploying the military will not change that. Real safety comes from investing in our communities: strong schools, stable housing, good jobs, youth programs, and mental health supports — not soldiers in our neighborhoods.

The presence of the National Guard would neither address the root causes of crime nor bring long-term safety. Instead, it risks putting Memphians in greater danger of unnecessary contact with the justice system while delaying real community-based solutions.

We further call on City and County officials to provide resources for violence prevention, housing, mental health services, and trauma supports — especially in neighborhoods most likely to be targeted by the National Guard. If state and federal governments truly want to help Memphis, they should deploy social workers, childcare centers, and grocery stores; not military troops.

We call on all elected officials at every level to reject this dangerous escalation and stand with the people of Memphis by investing in what truly keeps us safe: our schools, our housing, our jobs, and our communities.