In 2021, Memphis set a record for murders. 346 people in the city were murdered. The previous record was set the year before with 332 murders. In 2020, as I understand it, the Memphis Police Department says that it needs some reforms. What led them to that conclusion? So I think these calls for reform really came out of George Floyd's killing.
Memphis braced for an explosive reaction to footage of the deadly police beating. It never came. Wendi C. Thomas of the nonprofit newsroom MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, wasn’t surprised: “I know this city.”
This episode was produced by Siona Peterous and Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard with help from Hady Mawajdeh, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey and Efim Shapiro, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices