MEMPHIS, TN – The reports from Minneapolis and Portland over the last 48 hours are deeply troubling. From the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota to the reports of two more people shot by federal agents in Oregon, we’re being confronted with a pattern of violence that should weigh on the conscience of our entire nation.

As a public servant, I believe in the necessity of law enforcement, but true safety cannot exist without accountability. Federal agents must operate with respect for the life and liberty of the people they serve – because in a democracy, no agency is above the law or beyond the reach of local oversight. The denial of evidence to state investigators and the lack of cooperation with local police are unacceptable. Transparency is not a luxury – it is the foundation of public trust.

We have to be honest about why this is happening. The Trump administration is pushing a dangerous idea of power that should worry every American. As NYT columnist Michelle Goldberg recently wrote:

“All of us, citizens and immigrants alike, are being ruled by people who think life is a privilege bestowed by authority, and death is a fair penalty for disobedience.”

We cannot allow this to become the standard for how we are governed. Life is an unalienable right, not a gift from the government. When that right is disregarded through verifiably false narratives or the obstruction of justice, it threatens the safety of every resident in Shelby County and beyond.

My commitment is to keep Shelby County a place where our local authority is respected and every life is treated with dignity. 

That’s why I am joining my Democratic colleagues across the country to demand a full and independent investigation into these shootings. 

This is about more than any one case – it’s about making sure federal agencies answer to the law and respect the communities where they work. My heart and my prayers will remain with the victims and their families during this unimaginably difficult time.

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