National Guard troops began patrolling in Memphis, Tennesse, on Friday, Oct. 10, the city confirmed, as the Trump administration continues to battle lawsuits against similar deployments across the country.
Troops in Army fatigues could be seen crossing a parking lot at the Tennessee State Welcome Center shortly before 10 a.m. The back of their uniforms read "military police." Members of the National Guard wear the uniform of their federal military branch.
It was not immediately clear how many troops were in the city or what locations they would be patrolling and when. At least 11 military police troops could be seen meeting up in the welcome center parking lot, speaking with Memphis Police Department officers.
Unlike the governors of Ilinois, California and Oregon, who have all sued over the troop deployments, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee welcomed the federal intervention.
The deployment comes days after judges blocked similar moves in Chicago and Portland, Oregon. Government lawyers in both cases said troops were needed to protect federal officers and property from demonstrators.