ACLU claims Memphis Safe Task Force harassing plaintiff

Memphis Safe Task Force agents are continuing to harass and intimidate people who record their activities, according to a new federal court filing by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU and legal team for Memphis resident Hunter Demster filed a declaration on his behalf Wednesday, claiming the task force is retaliating against him for recording immigration and law enforcement activity. The filing, which is backed up by video, claims task force agents also “abused” Tennessee’s Halo Law by tackling and arresting Demster as he recorded them arresting a man in late August. 

The law makes it illegal for a person to get within 25 feet of an officer after being ordered to stop approaching or to retreat. The filing claims officers moved toward Demster as he recorded them Aug. 26, creating a “moving wall,” which he said in a video violated his First Amendment rights.

The filing also says task force agents went to Demster’s home on Aug. 30 and Sept. 3 and took pictures or shot video of him at the residence. 

A federal court is slated to hear arguments Sept. 23 on the lawsuit filed by Demster and other plaintiffs who are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the task force from retaliating against them as they record and observe immigration and law enforcement activities. In addition to the request for an injunction, the legal team filed multiple declarations about agents threatening to arrest Memphis residents, intimidating them with vehicles, making illegal traffic stops and watching their homes after they recorded task force actions.

“The task force has tried to punish and intimidate me for exercising my First Amendment rights, but I will not let them chill my speech,” Demster said in a release. “It is not only concerning, it is also deeply frightening how their retaliation has escalated — all because I show the world what’s going on in Memphis.”

The new filing points toward three incidents, the first in late August when he observed task force agents on a Memphis sidewalk and started shooting video. Agents approached him even though he wasn’t interfering with them and yelled “25 feet,” referring to the Halo Law, and moving toward him, according to the filing. When Demster asserted his right to stay there even as one agent said he “extended the scene” by walking toward him, agents took him to the ground, restrained his legs and handcuffed him.

During the arrest, ACLU of Tennessee legal director Lucas Cameron-Vaughn, arrived and was threatened with arrest after being ordered to retreat when he tried to speak with Demster, according to the filing. Demster was ultimately released at the scene.

Another incident took place Aug. 30 at Demster’s home where task force agents gathered across the street and took pictures of him and video of his house after he approached them. 

Task force agents parked outside his home again on Sept. 3, the filing says. When Demster asked if he could help them, one of them said no, and when he started videotaping the vehicle, a person inside the SUV stuck a phone out the window and took pictures and video of Demster, according to the filing.

“Task force agents should not be staking out our clients’ homes simply for recording their activities in public,” Scarlet Kim, senior staff attorney with ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, said in the release. “Nor should they abuse the Halo Law to interfere with our clients’ First Amendment right to record.”

The task force of 31 state, local and federal agencies started aggressively patrolling Memphis in September 2025 at the order of President Donald Trump and Gov. Bill Lee, conducting traffic stops and immigration sweeps, in addition to serving large numbers of arrest warrants. Lee sent the Tennessee National Guard to participate in the task force as well.