Dashboard camera footage released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has categorically disproven claims that an anti-ICE activist was struck by a police vehicle during a volatile protest in Memphis.
Video Evidence Contradicts Social Media Narrative
The incident occurred on Sunday amid nationwide protests sparked by the fatal shooting of Minnesota activist Renee Nicole Good by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. In Memphis, tensions escalated as hundreds gathered. A video circulating online appeared to show a person being hit by a THP vehicle, fuelling outrage.
However, THP moved swiftly to release the unedited dashcam footage, which tells a different story. The video clearly shows a man wearing an orange reflective vest walking in front of the patrol car as it comes to a complete stop. He then grabs the vehicle's bull bars and gently lowers himself onto the road.
"In this case, video clearly shows the individual holding onto the front of the trooper’s vehicle, lying down, then standing right back up afterwards and leaving the scene under his own power," a THP statement said. "At no point does the video show the individual being run over or injured, despite the narratives circulating on social media."
Police Warn of Public Safety Risk
The THP emphasised that while they respect the right to peaceful protest, endangering oneself by entering roadways is unacceptable. "We respect and protect the right of people to protest peacefully. That right, however, does not include entering active roadways or placing themselves in danger," the statement read.
"Our priority is always public safety for motorists, protesters and certainly our troopers," it continued. "When someone enters the roadway, it creates a serious and immediate risk, and troopers are trained to respond to prevent injuries or worse outcomes."
Arrests and Nationwide Unrest
According to local reports, at least one person was arrested during Sunday's Memphis protest. Rebecca Ann Leathers was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting detention after allegedly standing in front of a THP vehicle, attacking its windows, and becoming violent during her arrest.
The protests, which spread across the United States over the weekend, have become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration policy. In Austin, Texas, police took at least five people into custody after anti-ICE demonstrators blocked traffic. In Los Angeles, hundreds flooded downtown streets, prompting police to issue dispersal orders and form skirmish lines outside federal buildings.
