State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) is calling for a “coordinated” resistance and for Democrats to “fight back” amid National Guard troops being deployed to Memphis.
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that the National Guard will be deployed to Memphis, making it the next U.S. city targeted in an effort to address record-high crime rates.
“We’re going to Memphis. Memphis is deeply troubled…We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” Trump said on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends.”
“We’ll bring in the military too, if we need it,” Trump added.
Memphis ranks as the most dangerous city in the U.S., with a violent crime rate of 2,501 incidents per 100,000 residents, according to data published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Pearson, who was one of the “Tennessee Three” who stormed the Tennessee Capitol in 2023 demanding gun control and was expelled for the move, said during an appearance Friday on MSNBC, “Black communities should not be the place and the pawns for an authoritarian wannabe dictator, White Supremacist gain.”
What the hell is Justin Pearson suggesting he is going to do?? pic.twitter.com/ZzFtxnwkmH
— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) September 12, 2025
He claimed the National Guard’s presence in Memphis is an “intentional” act meant to “let us be lulled to sleep as our country moves from a democracy into an authoritarian dictatorship” before going on to call for “resistance” to “defend democracy.”
“Our resistance has to be vocal, it has to be clear, it has to be coordinated…We are going to see this repeating over and over again the terrorism of our communities. And we have to stand united and we have to fight back against it,” Pearson said.
In a statement made before Trump’s announcement Friday, Pearson said Memphis does not need “militarization and occupation,” instead, the city needs “poverty eradication.”
Specifically, he called for additional federal funding to go towards resources that address the “root causes of crime” as well as “community-based safety measures” and “dialogue.”
For months, I have been in constant communication with the Trump Administration to develop a multi-phased, strategic plan to combat crime in Memphis, leveraging the full extent of both federal and state resources.
The next phase will include a comprehensive mission with the…
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) September 12, 2025
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said the deployment of National Guard troops in Memphis came after “months” of his office communicating with the Trump Administration to “develop a multi-phased, strategic plan to combat crime in Memphis.”
“I’m grateful for the President’s unwavering support and commitment to providing every resource necessary to serve Memphians, and I look forward to working with local officials and law enforcement to continue delivering results…As one of America’s world-class cities, Memphis remains on a path to greatness, and we are not going to let anything hold them back,” the governor said.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Justin Pearson” by Matt Murphy.
Pearson is a lightweight who is trying to be relevant. If there is violence against law enforcement, Pearson needs to be considered an instigator. All this clown wants is 10 minutes of media coverage with the hope he’ll be visited, and can be in a photo with Kamala, Sanders or preferably Oprah.
Great stance, great message: let’s fight against law and order. Let’s keep letting the people of the black community Great Message.
Pearson should be removed.
Pearson ‘s comments are proof that Democrats support criminals and not victims.
Memphis needs better representation, not this soap box commie.
Pearson is calling for another riot in Tennessee.
Demonrats: Fighting to preserve high crime and for criminals.
Sadly, it’s people like him who could actually do something about the violent crime in Memphis being committed by people of the same race as himself, yet the democratically controlled city does nothing of any consequence to fix the problem. It’s as if they want this situation.