Resident Sues Over First Amendment Detention | Nashville News

A Memphis resident turned activist, Hunter Demster, is suing the newly formed Safe Task Force after being detained and allegedly intimidated for filming their operations — a move he says is retaliation for exercising his First Amendment rights. Under Tennessee’s controversial “Halo Law,” which bans approaching law enforcement within 25 feet without permission, Demster was pinned down during an arrest while recording — a law with no press exception that’s already sparked lawsuits nationwide. The ACLU, representing him, accuses the task force of using the law as a “moving wall” to keep him in violation, while also revealing video of agents surveilling his home and photographing him. Demster, who runs a local soup kitchen, insists he’s simply documenting his neighborhood and refuses to be silenced. The task force, created by Trump in September 2025 to tackle rising crime in the culturally rich city, now faces mounting legal and constitutional scrutiny over its tactics. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/16/memphis-safe-task-force-intimidation-lawsuit/91750453007/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/719b63c38f118ce9 Report issues to [email protected].