October 14, 2025 • 10 mins
Gracie Award-winning journalist and BIN news anchor Esther Dillard talks with Alexis Anderson Reed, President of State Voices, about President Trump's mobilization of military forces in urban cities.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
And I think we have to contextualize with happening in
Memphis with what we have been seeing is that this administration,
the Trump administration, is literally militarized in our city.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And they're doing it under.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This false guys of safety for our people, But what
they're really doing is terrorizing black and brown books.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, we're
talking about how across the country, community leaders are sounding
the alarm about the Tennessee Governor's plan to send the
National Guarden to Memphis. One of those voices is Alexis
Anderson Reed, President of State Voices. She leads the largest
progressive civic engagement network in the nation, connected to organizations
(00:47):
that fight every day for black and brown communities. I
spoke with her about what these actions mean and why
she says they represent more than just a local issue. Now,
let's listen in. I know that you have a national reach.
Do you know what's happening though on the ground in
Memphis and how it's feeling there at all.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
So, the first thing I want to say is Memphis
holds a special place.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
In my heart. My people are from Memphis.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
My grandmother was born in Memphis, my great great grandparents
were born in Memphis, My father was born in Memphis,
and so Memphis.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Is home for me and where you know, when we do.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Our family unions, it is summerges back home to Memphis,
and so what is happening there is devastating. It makes
me angry and sad, and I think we have to
contextualize with happening in Memphis with what we have been
seen is that this administration, the Trump administration, is literally
(01:54):
militarizing our city.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
And they're doing it under this like.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
False guys of safety for our people. But what they're
really doing is just terrorizing black and brown folks and
terrorizing immigrants. And so the deployment of the National Guard
right in heavily black and brown cities is an overreach
of power and it is endangering, intimidating more than it's addressing.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So called public safety.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And you know, we first saw this in La right
with ice raids and the terrorizing of immigrant families, of
folks who are just simply trying to get to work,
run errands, picking their kids up from school. And then
we've seen this escalation in real time. We've seen it
in social media. I've seen it on the streets that
(02:49):
currently live in the D and D area. So I've
seen it on the front lines in DC, and now
we're seeing this escalation in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
And my concern.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Is that this is being normalized in some ways and
is just creating more like these harmful stereotypes of majority
black and brown cities and ignoring which actually really happening happening,
and ignoring the.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Real data is that time actually has.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Declined in most categories over the last year and like
for over decades, and Memphis specifically, the crime rate is
a historic twenty five year low.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
And you know, while less than.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Three percent of folks in a Memphis commit crimes, what's
happening with the National Guard troops is impacting one hundred
percent of the residents of Memphis. And so I've been
talking with folks on the ground there and had the
opportunity to both talk with folks at.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Our table.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
As well as folks who are part of different shelby
counting voter alliances, and folks are definitely intimidated and.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Feeling like what are what can we do together?
Speaker 1 (04:16):
But at the same time, even though there is intimidation
and that there is fear and these tactics are seeking
to do that. There's also a feeling of like, how
do we fight back and those question yeah, yeah, okay, good.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I'm wondering because honestly, when you look at what Chicago
did Illinois, but Illinois had a governor which said no,
I don't want you here, and the city said no.
You have a different dynamic in Memphis where you have
the governor is saying yes, but the people and the
(04:57):
cities and the counties are saying no. How does that
mesh and where does that work? As far as empowerment
for those who are on the ground.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yes, that is.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
The bottom lines. There's power in the people, and when
we stand together and stand in the community and protect
each other, that's where we have to like live from
that place because so many of the elected officials to
our office or leaders unfortunately are instead representing billionaires and
(05:36):
maga interest in not representing the people. So I think
that's the first place to start. I think also there
are a lot of different resources from folks like the
ACLU to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center where people can
plug into and help them inform their rights, know how
(05:57):
to protect themselves, know how to protect their families, and
you know, something I've really been thinking about is like,
how can we learn from LA in DC on how
to organize and proactively resist? And so I'm in talking
with folks who you know, who did organize in these cities,
(06:21):
and if a place to look is like free d
C and the black women who are on the front
lines of DC organizing a multi racial resistance that's still.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Happening, should be studied and learned from.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So how can we have folks from d C, from
LA go to Memphis and help organize and work with
residents there on in real time like how to fight back?
And so that's something I'm working on, and then thinking
about how we preemptively go to places like Baltimore and
Birmingham where we think those are going to be the
(06:55):
next target, so that we can like train folks in
real time, organize communities.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Ahead of time, and really protect each other.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Can you talk a little bit about the like the
recommendated recommended actions that you're training people on the ground with,
maybe just a few maybe you can't give us a
whole you know, uh masterclass, but perhaps some of the
things that you are telling people that kind of give
them power versus them feeling disempowered yep.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
So knowing your rights is really really important right now.
Also having like scenario and action plans or something does
happen to you or a family member that you already
you know either have a legal number, able to call
the aco. You like, being able to protect yourself and
your safety in the moment, but then also be able
(07:50):
to know what to do in like real time. We're
also thinking ahead around you know, what it will take
to have a math resist into effort in this country,
and so training people on organizing and knowing how to
organize in their communities, their neighbors, their churches, and also
what it's going to take for non violent direct to action.
(08:14):
And I want to just if it's okay, take a
moment to talk a bit about like this moment that
we're finding ourselves in. We have been studying, along with
a number of other organizations that we work with, how
to stop authoritarianism from taking over. And the way that
(08:35):
we've been learning is through other countries who have been
in similar situations, right, and we've been learning about, okay,
how do we stop it? And then also if we
are able to stop at how we build a pro
democracy agenda with new systems the new values for our country,
and I really I don't want to scare us, but
(08:57):
I also want us to get real about what time
it is it is if if we are able to
stop it. It's what we're learning is it will take
about four percent of the population in the United States,
that's around fourteen million people to be in sustained resistance
through nonviolent direct action in order to stop the consolidation
(09:19):
of power. So that's one point to keep in mind.
The second point is our timeline.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Is really short.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
What we've learned is in most authoritarian takeovers, it takes
about eighteen months right where you have to stop this
consolidation of power before you are living with authoritarianism for
a decade or a generation. So we have about twelve
months left in that timeline.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
So we have to be really really focused right now.
Our lives depend on it.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
We're going to have to leave it right there. But
if you'd like to hear the rest of that interview
and especially some of the insights that she gives that
her organization is doing on the ground to help empower
communities around the country, you can head over to the
Club Between the Lines podcasts on YouTube or wherever you
get your podcasts, I'm Esther Dillard. Thanks Alexis and Esther
And I think we have to contextualize with happening in
Memphis with what we have been seeing is that this administration,
the Trump administration, is literally militarized in our city.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And they're doing it under.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This false guys of safety for our people, But what
they're really doing is terrorizing black and brown books.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, we're
talking about how across the country, community leaders are sounding
the alarm about the Tennessee Governor's plan to send the
National Guarden to Memphis. One of those voices is Alexis
Anderson Reed, President of State Voices. She leads the largest
progressive civic engagement network in the nation, connected to organizations
(00:47):
that fight every day for black and brown communities. I
spoke with her about what these actions mean and why
she says they represent more than just a local issue. Now,
let's listen in. I know that you have a national reach.
Do you know what's happening though on the ground in
Memphis and how it's feeling there at all.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
So, the first thing I want to say is Memphis
holds a special place.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
In my heart. My people are from Memphis.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
My grandmother was born in Memphis, my great great grandparents
were born in Memphis, My father was born in Memphis,
and so Memphis.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Is home for me and where you know, when we do.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Our family unions, it is summerges back home to Memphis,
and so what is happening there is devastating. It makes
me angry and sad, and I think we have to
contextualize with happening in Memphis with what we have been
seen is that this administration, the Trump administration, is literally
(01:54):
militarizing our city.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
And they're doing it under this like.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
False guys of safety for our people. But what they're
really doing is just terrorizing black and brown folks and
terrorizing immigrants. And so the deployment of the National Guard
right in heavily black and brown cities is an overreach
of power and it is endangering, intimidating more than it's addressing.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So called public safety.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And you know, we first saw this in La right
with ice raids and the terrorizing of immigrant families, of
folks who are just simply trying to get to work,
run errands, picking their kids up from school. And then
we've seen this escalation in real time. We've seen it
in social media. I've seen it on the streets that
(02:49):
currently live in the D and D area. So I've
seen it on the front lines in DC, and now
we're seeing this escalation in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
And my concern.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Is that this is being normalized in some ways and
is just creating more like these harmful stereotypes of majority
black and brown cities and ignoring which actually really happening happening,
and ignoring the.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Real data is that time actually has.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Declined in most categories over the last year and like
for over decades, and Memphis specifically, the crime rate is
a historic twenty five year low.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
And you know, while less than.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Three percent of folks in a Memphis commit crimes, what's
happening with the National Guard troops is impacting one hundred
percent of the residents of Memphis. And so I've been
talking with folks on the ground there and had the
opportunity to both talk with folks at.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Our table.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
As well as folks who are part of different shelby
counting voter alliances, and folks are definitely intimidated and.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Feeling like what are what can we do together?
Speaker 1 (04:16):
But at the same time, even though there is intimidation
and that there is fear and these tactics are seeking
to do that. There's also a feeling of like, how
do we fight back and those question yeah, yeah, okay, good.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I'm wondering because honestly, when you look at what Chicago
did Illinois, but Illinois had a governor which said no,
I don't want you here, and the city said no.
You have a different dynamic in Memphis where you have
the governor is saying yes, but the people and the
(04:57):
cities and the counties are saying no. How does that
mesh and where does that work? As far as empowerment
for those who are on the ground.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yes, that is.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
The bottom lines. There's power in the people, and when
we stand together and stand in the community and protect
each other, that's where we have to like live from
that place because so many of the elected officials to
our office or leaders unfortunately are instead representing billionaires and
(05:36):
maga interest in not representing the people. So I think
that's the first place to start. I think also there
are a lot of different resources from folks like the
ACLU to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center where people can
plug into and help them inform their rights, know how
(05:57):
to protect themselves, know how to protect their families, and
you know, something I've really been thinking about is like,
how can we learn from LA in DC on how
to organize and proactively resist? And so I'm in talking
with folks who you know, who did organize in these cities,
(06:21):
and if a place to look is like free d
C and the black women who are on the front
lines of DC organizing a multi racial resistance that's still.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Happening, should be studied and learned from.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So how can we have folks from d C, from
LA go to Memphis and help organize and work with
residents there on in real time like how to fight back?
And so that's something I'm working on, and then thinking
about how we preemptively go to places like Baltimore and
Birmingham where we think those are going to be the
(06:55):
next target, so that we can like train folks in
real time, organize communities.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Ahead of time, and really protect each other.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Can you talk a little bit about the like the
recommendated recommended actions that you're training people on the ground with,
maybe just a few maybe you can't give us a
whole you know, uh masterclass, but perhaps some of the
things that you are telling people that kind of give
them power versus them feeling disempowered yep.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
So knowing your rights is really really important right now.
Also having like scenario and action plans or something does
happen to you or a family member that you already
you know either have a legal number, able to call
the aco. You like, being able to protect yourself and
your safety in the moment, but then also be able
(07:50):
to know what to do in like real time. We're
also thinking ahead around you know, what it will take
to have a math resist into effort in this country,
and so training people on organizing and knowing how to
organize in their communities, their neighbors, their churches, and also
what it's going to take for non violent direct to action.
(08:14):
And I want to just if it's okay, take a
moment to talk a bit about like this moment that
we're finding ourselves in. We have been studying, along with
a number of other organizations that we work with, how
to stop authoritarianism from taking over. And the way that
(08:35):
we've been learning is through other countries who have been
in similar situations, right, and we've been learning about, okay,
how do we stop it? And then also if we
are able to stop at how we build a pro
democracy agenda with new systems the new values for our country,
and I really I don't want to scare us, but
(08:57):
I also want us to get real about what time
it is it is if if we are able to
stop it. It's what we're learning is it will take
about four percent of the population in the United States,
that's around fourteen million people to be in sustained resistance
through nonviolent direct action in order to stop the consolidation
(09:19):
of power. So that's one point to keep in mind.
The second point is our timeline.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Is really short.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
What we've learned is in most authoritarian takeovers, it takes
about eighteen months right where you have to stop this
consolidation of power before you are living with authoritarianism for
a decade or a generation. So we have about twelve
months left in that timeline.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
So we have to be really really focused right now.
Our lives depend on it.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
We're going to have to leave it right there. But
if you'd like to hear the rest of that interview
and especially some of the insights that she gives that
her organization is doing on the ground to help empower
communities around the country, you can head over to the
Club Between the Lines podcasts on YouTube or wherever you
get your podcasts, I'm Esther Dillard. Thanks Alexis and Esther
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