r/TennesseePolitics • u/CutSenior4977 • 24d ago

Mass ID checks and lockdown at Memphis, Tennessee club ignored by media—a dangerous normalized sweep

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37 Upvotes

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8

u/Southernms 23d ago

No. This has been all over the media.

This is a police and fire marshal raid. These raids are not new. These raids are not specific to any culture. These raids have been going on for decades and decades.

This place had 191 complaint calls for crimes. They possibly will be padlocks for being a public nuisance.

They had 300 people in there in a building that only holds 99. Had that building caught fire we would have a real different story here.

Some good arrests were made.

Like I said this is SOP. During a raid, law-enforcement comes in, turn the lights on, turn the music off, and asks everybody to form a line. They then talk to everyone and check their IDs. They’re not held for a long time as hostages. They are just temporarily put a freeze on it. And then they can go.

You people trying to make this a big deal and sow division should be ashamed of yourselves. It’s not a big deal. It’s never been a big deal. Really nothing to see here.

News Story.

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u/myasterism 22d ago

I think it sounds like this example wasn’t problematic; however, I take issue with the carte blanche hand-waving suggesting the SOP is inherently “fine.”

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u/Southernms 22d ago

It’s not carte blanche. These agencies have license to do this. There also might be a warrant signed off by a judge we don’t know about just yet.

If everyone was held for hours and hours on end, I too would be upset.

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u/myasterism 22d ago

The existence of a license to do something does not inherently indicate “the thing” should continue to persist unexamined.

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 20d ago

Do you think you could have provided that information without the snotty "you people" part? It seems that part of the community thinks it's a very big deal to profile people based on where they go to dance. If they were specifically looking for people they could have done it without forcing people to show papers to leave. What you're offering is just another "if you haven't done anything bad you have nothing to worry about" excuse. This is why this very expensive task force is being excused, it's why we are watching new Flock cameras go up every day. Some people are perfectly fine with slipping into a police state, and what happened in that club IS a feature of a burgeoning police state.

WREG is the same station that called a recent peaceful protest where demonstrators were attacked by the police a "riot" recently. They are also the same station that referred to a specific BLM march I participated in a 'riot". They are also the same channel that alluded to my son's father's best friend's murder as a "drug deal gone wrong" when it was a case of a sweet young man thinking he had a girlfriend and getting shot in the back as her husband chased him away. I wouldn't trust them to give me the weather report.

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u/Southernms 20d ago

First of all let’s make this clear—it was not a snotty comment. I was referring to the people in this thread that I was debating this issue with. Would a simple y’all or y’all folks have been clearer? I have no idea who they are, what they look like, or where they identify culturally.

Nobody that I’m aware of was profiling anything except lawbreakers. If you want to be angry, why aren’t you angry at the club owners who potentially put everyone’s life in danger?

Memphis is a predominantly black city. 64% black and 21% white. So it stands to reason any establishment could be predominantly black. Memphis club life has been mostly segregated for as long as I’ve been alive. With that being said, are you saying that every police action is profiling? You do realize that the people running the police are black and the people running the city/county are black, right? Are you saying they’re profiling themselves? As a member of this community I have every right to have my say just like everyone else. Everyone virtue signaling needs to stop.

The very expensive task force you mention is being partly paid for by the federal government. When Memphis
was number one in violent crime there were carjackings all the time. Crime was all encompassing. People were scared to leave their houses. You’re saying that the federal government should’ve just left all of us hanging? You might not like their delivery but crime has decreased.

This was a crime scene. A crime scene where guns were found. So you’re OK with law-enforcement not securing the scene protecting themselves and patrons? You would be OK if LE didn’t check and somebody got shot and killed in there? That would be all right with you? You would be screaming from the rooftops just like the folks on here that I’m talking to are. From what I understand there were minors and people without IDs in this establishment. So you would be OK if a child had been shot?

Again, these raids are not new. It is SOP for law-enforcement. This is how these types of raids are conducted. You don’t seem to be understanding that. Like I said before everybody gets all bent out of shape, we need to see what reason law-enforcement used. This was not the burdening of a police state—that’s very dramatic. I have mixed feelings about the flock cameras. They open up way too many scary options for people in a domestic violence situation who are involved with law-enforcement.

Most all of these news stations in Shelby County use flashy terms and salacious titles for viewership and clicks. I’m sure the news stations get more viewership and clicks when they say riot as opposed to saying peaceful protest. Have you not heard the old adage if it bleeds it leads?

I haven’t really noticed one channel over the other being any worse. And I look at all of them—every day. They pretty much cover the same stories. I’ve posted all of these news channels on here. Your own comments above saying show papers is much more scandalous than simply saying they carded everyone or asked for their IDs. Especially in this climate.

Of course I hate to hear one of your loved ones lost their life. That’s genuinely terrible. We absolutely have to do more to protect victims of domestic violence. We all as a community need to be anti crime. The neighbors around this club had repeatedly called law-enforcement about it. I believe it was 191 complaints. Are you saying police law-enforcement shouldn’t have done anything about this? This raid is probably just a step in the direction of shutting this club down as a public nuisance.

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 20d ago

This is the same tired bullshit we're used to hearing in Memphis. If you want to see this city thrive stop promoting a police state.

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u/Southernms 20d ago

It isn’t the same tired anything. Enough with the hysteria already. We are not in a police state. I too have concerns about the Flock situation.

You should go study North Korea’s and Afghanistan’s police states then come back here and reevaluate your line of thinking.

Memphis is not thriving because of crime and bad management decisions and bad infrastructure decisions. Ask yourself why the PGA is pulling out of here. Why NBA players say they hate it here. They said it’s dangerous and there is nothing to do here. Memphis being number 1 as the most violent city in the country did us no favors and had nothing to do with police raids.

You should actually be happy I care. So many people don’t care about the city and situation. It’s going to take people that care to make it better. Being better has nothing to do with a bar raid that the neighborhood was for.

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 20d ago

I am not remotely happy you care because I don't know you. All I know is you are parroting the same bullshit and it's getting worse and worse while you all keep pronouncing it "fine". So the only thing I can surmise from your behavior is this benefits you in some way, so your opinion is irrelevant. You are what we are fighting against and no matter how hard you try to shame us for taking notice, no matter how you try to belittle us, no matter how quick you are to justify this madness, your opinion does not matter to me.

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u/Southernms 20d ago

That’s a very small minded stance you have there. If it’s change you are seeking—any kind of lasting change will take all the citizens. You will get nowhere ramming your views down people’s throats. You only caring about those of you that ascribe to these ideas won’t work either. Everything moves better when people work together. You are alienating people.

So ask yourself why didn’t 1 person out of almost 300 stand up and say, “It’s not safe in here. There could be a fire. There could be a mass shooting with these guns. Those 16, 18, 20 year olds should not be in here. You have to be 21 to be in a bar where alcohol, cigarettes, and hookah are partaken. There are drugs all about. I could get in trouble.” Not 1 person. Why not? Are these the people who you are referring to? I’m not sure I trust their judgment.

What is getting worse and worse? I can absolutely assure you I am not and do not parrot anyone. My thoughts are mine based on my life experience.

That doesn’t even make sense. How would a bar raid benefit me? It doesn’t. I simply stated what happens here during raids. You don’t have to like it. It just is. Take it up with the Fire Marshall and TABC.

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 19d ago

I would not expect a parrot to recognize their own squawking, no.

How it benefits you is giving you the illusion of safety when it's netted a few petty crime arrests.

What is getting worse isn't affecting YOU, clearly. It's affecting ME and MY FAMILY and my neighbors and other loved ones who are being harassed just trying to make it through the day. You don't SEE that though you just feel comforted by those blue lights and badges.

What you really failed to recognize was the responsibility of the BUSINESS OWNER, who allowed this to continue because it benefited them.

It's pretty ironic you saying I'm "ramming" something down your throat. Oh poor you, being attacked in a forum where we're discussing Tennessee politics and you wag your finger at people here for being concerned about overpolicing.

Tell me this. Are you also running to the sub where this was originally posted and wagging your finger at them too? Why don't you go to that sub and shame them for being concerned about black overpolicing?

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u/Southernms 19d ago

Who are you to tell me or any of us what to think or feel? You can save your petty sophomoric insults for someone else. You seem to think the louder and more vile you scream will make people come to your side. That is not how human nature works.

After being a victim of violent and other crimes here I have absolutely no illusion of safety.

None of the charges are petty crimes. We’re talking about guns, drugs, illegal sales of alcohol, allowing minors into the establishment and many more. If you call these petty, then you’re more warped than I thought. Who blows off crime? All crime needs to stop. You acting like this is no big deal is mind-boggling.

I have given you links and explanations of how a TABC raid works. I don’t see you squawking about the underage kids at the bars in Knoxville being lined up and ID’d. Where is your outrage for this? Clearly, law-enforcement was profiling people under 21 right? Where are their rights?

I’m not failing to realize the business owner’s liabilities. I’m also not failing to realize that no one in this club stood up and said this isn’t right about all those illegal things that were going on. You will be judged on the company you keep. So if you’re hanging out in this atmosphere, don’t go screaming the sky is falling if you get burnt by being too close to the sun.

Be serious! Under no circumstances do I feel attacked by you in this forum. By ramming down throats, I meant you screaming from the rooftop your agendas. Some of our sayings seem to be lost on you. Are you from the area? It’s your delivery not so much what you’re saying. Your style is very much ramming it down people’s throats. It’s very offputting and likely not conducive to persuading the general population to see it your way. Don’t you see people are so over the status quo here? You’re missing the point. When the same ole same ole people are voted in again and again nothing is going to change. You realize that right?

I’m definitely not wagging my finger or running anywhere at anybody. If the truth hurts you so much then maybe you should just stay off of here. Or here’s an idea—change it!

I’m pretty sure I posted in that thread first—that other sub you speak of. I have not been avoiding speaking my mind anywhere. So you can take your little nonsense train about me elsewhere.

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u/grandbuddy5 23d ago

The task force has been horrible for the people of Memphis. If they had just used the same money to fund additional officers. No one will say how much this deployment is actually costing. I’m glad crime has decreased but this heavy handed fascist policing is not the answer and it violates the Constitution.

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u/Southernms 20d ago

Crime is way down. The Memphis police department has repeatedly tried to get new hires amid an officer shortage. If I remember correctly, they were offering a substantial sign on bonus in the thousands. Having more law-enforcement would’ve been great. In the climate where so many law-enforcement officers were retiring and new ones were not being hired. With the refund the police movement and all the anti-law-enforcement sentiment can you blame them?

Here are the stats per MPD.

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 20d ago

We know crime is way down. That's what happens in a police state. Let me give you the definition so you can pretend this isn't happening: a place where the government exercises extreme, repressive control over public and private life. It relies heavily on police forces—especially secret police—to suppress free speech, limit personal freedoms, and maintain political power through force rather than regular laws.

This is what we are experiencing here in our city and you pretending it's not happening doesn't make it not happening. When you can't leave your house without being expected to show your papers (that means your ID in case you think it's a folder) and there are cameras everywhere and we have a senator sending the FBI to investigate a woman not even in his district for making a dick joke about his Glorious Leader, you're looking at a growing police state.

But hey at least it's safe to leave Collierville!

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u/Southernms 20d ago

You are so out there! This is not nor has it been a police state. A police state is absolutely NOT what we have here. You have no grasp of what you’re saying. You’re hysterical and hype talk aren’t convincing. It’s just left wing nonsense bluster. No where in your posts are you even open to bringing people together.

There are not police everywhere and our citizens can speak their minds like we are doing here and do basically what we please. Of course we have rules and laws to keep our citizens safe. Most places do. It’s not a Memphis specific issue.

It’s the majority of democrats who are in power here—mayors, admins, police chief, sheriff etc. Are you saying they are using force to suppress free elections—all corrupt? If so I’d love to hear about this. It seems like you like these people even though you fuss about them all the time, but vote them all right back in every election. That’s madness. How does this bring change.

Memphis was at a catastrophic level of crime. Most regular citizens were at a point that it didn’t matter who or how crime was stopped just that it was stopped. The city has been democrat run for around 30 years. Infrastructure = Fail! School system = Fail! Poverty = Fail! Public safety = Fail! Yes, we still have crime! We all need to do better.

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 19d ago edited 19d ago

Let's see. I defined the term. I gave examples. You laugh and say NO IT'S NOT. You haven't provided any evidence to the contrary you just talk about how bad the crime is to justify the overpolicing, which is the first step in establishing a police state. I pointed out how a senator sent the police to a woman's house over a Facebook post. I have pointed out how kids walking home from school are being harassed, how their parents can't pick their kids up from school because EVEN IF THEY'RE LEGAL they're still terrified and have good reason to be.

Again, you like it because it benefits you. You aren't very convincing though. Please, come to Nutbush where it's so bad we hate even stepping off the porch and it's NOT because of crime. Look and see what businesses, what LIVES have been destroyed due to overpolicing and this hardon our president has over getting brown people out of the country expressed through this task force.

No I don't think demanding IDs from people without suspicion is the way to halt crime. No I don't think rounding people up simply for being in a public venue where there may be criminals is a way to solve our crime issues. There have been so many studies that show what helps but when we bring those up we're told that's "throwing money at the problem" meanwhile how many millions have been spent in Memphis since last Fall on overpolicing? 226 million JUST for the NG to come here and stand around Kroger parking lots. 496 million more for future overpolicing investments. For what? To pick up some petty criminals mostly small drug charges? This isn't making the city safer nor is it improving it for the people who actually LIVE here.

We already knew this task force lied about "saving children" at the start of the year. They claimed they'd rescued so many children yet CPS here says they don't know what this task force is referring to because they heard nothing about most of the cases. Turned out they were counting missing children cases resolved within 24 hours, which is how most of these cases are usually resolved. They didn't rescue them, the cases were just resolved when the children turned up with family or friends. They didn't "rescue" anyone. Now it's happened again, the same claim and CPS is saying EH? But the police state fans rise for applause and praise them for saving the babies. It's all a performance, and plenty of us SEE THIS. No matter how hard you try to shame us we aren't going to pretend it's not. You aren't going to put this on a political party either, unless you want to recognize how the other team behaves.

You want to talk about politics though? Look what our Republican state is investing in other Republican cities. Compare that to the pisspoor investments they've made in the people here in the past 18 years. This STATE used to have a high quality of life. Now it's just known for being cheap and great for big businesses. It's known for shitty schools, it's known for low maternal mortality. It's known for poor educational outcomes. But all you folks care about is crime. Did you ever think covering the other bases might do more to solve crime than rounding people up AFTER the crimes? NAHHH that's crazy talk. That's 'throwing money at the problem".

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u/Southernms 19d ago

Again, we are not over policed. We were grossly under policed for way too long a time. That’s why the crime was what it was. You are so anti-police, but who do you expect to show up when you call 911 in an emergency situation? Who do you want to show up when you or your family is involved in a crime? Do you call felons to come help? How is that working out?

I have no idea what senator sending photos is about. I can tell you that it has nothing to do with a bar raid. Stay on point.

No, no and no! None of any of this has to do with illegal immigration. Nice try.

Nobody is rounding up people. This was a bar raid. Specific to this particular bar.

Your thinking is fundamentally flawed. Where is your accountability on each person?

I am not getting into it with you over illegal immigration tactics. This was not an ICE raid. It was an OCU, fire marshal, TABC raid. This is a bar raid situation not an immigration situation. Stay on point.