Memphis restaurant Tamboli's Pizza & Pasta is facing intense backlash after its owner admitted to refusing service to four uniformed members of the Tennessee National Guard. The incident occurred on Saturday night, when the Guard members were denied a meal while in uniform.
In a public statement, restaurant owner Miles Tamboli defended his decision, citing concerns about the National Guard's deployment and its impact on local residents. He argued that the Guard's presence has made people fearful and referenced a recent fatal shooting involving National Guard members and a civilian that remains under investigation.
Tamboli also claimed that Memphis was already getting safer before the National Guard arrived, citing data from the Memphis Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. However, he acknowledged that the Guard's presence has made the city harder to live in and that routine traffic stops have led to the majority of arrests.
The restaurant owner also referenced a fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Memphian by National Guard troops during a foot chase, which he claimed has made the community less safe. He argued that soldiers are not trained to do the work of police officers and that their presence is dangerous for both civilians and troops.
Tamboli's decision to refuse service to the Guard members has sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing his stance as unpatriotic and disrespectful to the troops. The incident has also raised questions about the role of the National Guard in policing communities.
Following the backlash, Roy Tamboli, the father of restaurant owner Miles Tamboli, publicly defended his son's decision, citing a public commitment by local businesses to stand against the military policing their streets. However, many have criticized Miles Tamboli's statement as divisive and hurtful.
