The federal Task Force’s impact on Latino businesses in Memphis
Members of the National Guard patrol Beale Street, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (George Walker IV/AP file)
When we first booked the executive director of the Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce to come on The Sidebar, it was months before the Memphis Safe Task Force was announced.
We had plans to talk about the Latino business community, which has been growing over many years. But the Memphis Safe Task Force was announced after we set up the show, which of course sent the conversation in new directions.
To talk about the impact of the federal influx of law enforcement, I was joined by Alex Matlock, the founder and current president of the Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce, and Sylvia Leon, the group’s executive director.
We talked about the impact on businesses inside and outside the Latino community, including fewer Latino customers going out because of fears of being detained and fewer Latino employees being comfortable going to work.
That fear extends to many legal citizens, according to Matlock and Leon.
Take a listen.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
“The Sidebar,” which airs every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on WYXR 91.7 FM, is also available as a podcast here on the website or wherever you get your podcasts.
Note: WYXR is a partnership between Crosstown Concourse, the University of Memphis and The Daily Memphian. As part of that partnership, I serve on the board of Crosstown Radio Partnership, which owns and oversees WYXR.
Topics
The Sidebar Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce Memphis Safe Task ForceEric Barnes
Eric Barnes is CEO of The Daily Memphian, host of Behind the Headlines on WKNO-TV, host of The Sidebar on WYXR 91.7, and the author of four novels.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.