Two Memphis City Councilmen tried to get the Memphis Police Department to refuse to provide security for former President Donald Trump in Southaven next week.
It is unclear if the resolution would have been anything more than a political statement. The disapproval of the former president was shown.
The heated discussion over Trump's security was more about whether the resolution was the right thing to do or not.
The resolution was defeated by the Memphis City Council in a committee. Two weeks after Trump's vit, the resolution will be voted on by the full council.
The resolution was introduced a week ago. The strained state of MPD personnel was cited as one of the reasons for the former president's history of private security bills not being paid.
"Elected leaders should stand up and say no more lies and no more deceit," he said. He is also a candidate for governor. The former president has lied about the election.
Two Memphis City Councilmen don't want Memphis police providing security for Trump.
The city shouldn't use taxpayer resources on someone who encourages divisiveness and racist acts. The police department was expected to follow the resolution.
The former president being re-elected is the greatest threat to our democracy. We stand against all forms of discrimination. Most of the people of Memphis are in agreement with us. The people of Memphis know where you stand.
Worth Morgan thinks we should not be playing politics with security decisions. Morgan is the Republican nominee for mayor of the county. If there's a request to come forward, that's up to theMPD.
The resolution was called a slippery slope by other members of the council.
The Tennessee General Assembly is proclivity for passing laws that supersede Memphis' authority.
The office will be destroyed if we make it about the man. The media was criticized for not covering the city's budget hearings a few hours earlier and for not covering the resolution during a public meeting.
Canale said he hoped the council would pass similar resolutions for other presidents.
Edmund Ford, Jr., said that he hated that man with a passion but he was the president of the US. We build this man up. I don't want them to come through that door. If we do this, we're going to bring hate out.
The MPD has not been asked to provide security for the event. The same thing was said last week. The American Freedom Tour is a private event for which tickets are being sold south of Memphis.
The Secret Service coordinates and requests help from local law enforcement when former presidents need assistance.
The council was told by the chief that the department had not received a request for security. In a typical security situation, the police department would escort a dignitary to the city's jurisdictional border.
Davis said that they would help in their jurisdiction. Whether the sitting president, the first lady, or the former president will be supported by the jurisdiction.
The requests for security come from a federal law enforcement agency, the Secret Service, and the department would be assisting a federal agency, not a particular person, according to assistant chief DonCrowe.
The American Freedom Tour responded to the resolution. The spokesman for the tour asked if the Memphis City Council would give up security for Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, or Joe Biden. It would be ridiculous for them to do that.
Samuel Hardiman is a political reporter for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at Samuel Hardiman, or by following him on social media.
The original article was published on the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
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