The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has demanded the immediate suspension of the Memphis Safe Task Force after the recent deaths of two Black men in Tennessee.
In a letter to acting attorney general Todd Blanche on Friday, the civil rights group called for a thorough federal investigation into the anti-crime task force established under Donald Trump.
The joint federal, state, and local law enforcement task force has faced criticism for deploying military and federal officers into Memphis without adequate civilian policing training.
The demand follows two fatal incidents.
On Sunday, 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson was shot by two Tennessee National Guard troops during an early morning incident.
Two days earlier, 34-year-old Darius Chappell was found dead in a cell at the Montgomery County jail after a violent arrest in Clarksville on June 29.
Social media footage showed multiple officers holding Chappell on the ground while a police canine appeared to bite him, prompting an internal investigation into the K9 deployment.
The Memphis Safe Task Force, launched last year via executive order to curb perceived rising crime, has been linked to at least four deaths this year.
The NAACP stated that local investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) are insufficient due to conflicting agency reports and federal involvement.
The letter highlighted that no officers have been charged and no official cause of death has been issued for Chappell.
“The federal government has unique expertise in investigating law enforcement misconduct, and in Mr. Johnson's case, challenges arise given federal officials' involvement,” the letter said.
“There is a need for transparency into the facts surrounding Mr. Chappell’s death.
The public deserves facts about the force used and the extent of medical care offered while in custody.”
The letter also stated, “You swore an oath to support, protect, and defend the Constitution.
Despite this, we have seen the Justice Department fully retreat from investigating these matters.”
The organization added, “The department has abdicated its responsibility to prosecute officials who violate civil and constitutional rights.”
NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson emphasized that the Department of Justice must protect Black Americans and ensure accountability.
“The Department of Justice cannot continue to stand by while Black lives are taken.
It has a fundamental responsibility to defend the Constitution, which includes the rights and safety of Black Americans,” Johnson said.
“When officers fail to deliver equal protection under the law, the federal government must step in.
We will not allow the names of Darius Chappell and Tyrin Johnson to be overlooked.”
A NAACP survey revealed deep community distrust: 63% of Memphis residents strongly disapproved of the National Guard deployment, while 54% believed it undermined public safety.
