The story follows the formation of local black men, particularly exwar veterans who after the struggles become too overbearing organizes the group, deacons for defense, an allblack defense group dedicated to patrolling the black section of town and protecting its residents from the more violent aspects of white backlash. Factbased drama, starring forest whitaker, adam weiner, jonathan. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in. The boston herald this superb showtime original docudrama is based on a littletold story of the civil rights movement. The towns sat 20 miles apart, yet, you couldnt tellem apart. Deacons for defense 2003 cast and crew black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. The film is loosely based on the activities of the deacons for defense and justice in 1965 in bogalusa, louisiana. Inspired by a true story, this made for cable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. As one exdeacon wrote in a lyric of a song, the term deacons was selected to beguile local.
Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Deacons for defense is a 2003 showtime movie that was inspired by a true story of a group of african american citizens of bogalusa, louisiana, who took up arms to protect themselves from the kkk and the local law. Deacons for defense and justice the volokh conspiracy. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis. Deacons of defense film i was born and raised in south carolina and the accuracy of the movie was very painful. Deacons for defense 2003 r 1h 18min drama tv movie 16 february 2003. Panache report myra panache reports blk celeb obituary part two. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Jan 09, 2017 by january 1965 the group had arrived at is permanent name, deacons for defense and justice. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. With the whole world watching, these men changed forever their lives, their town, and their country. In 2003 the activities of the deacons was the subject of a 2003, deacons for defense documentary. A year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense.
The africanamerican selfdefense organization was founded in februar. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The organization wanted to maintain a level of respectability and identify with traditionally accepted symbols of peace and moral values. Feb 06, 2016 the family of the late civil rights activist robert hicks, a leader of the deacons for defense in the 1960s, is working to turn his home into a museum. The family of the late civil rights activist robert hicks, a leader of the deacons for defense in the 1960s, is working to turn his home into a museum. The deacons for defense and justice, an armed african american selfdefense group charged with protecting local black communities and civil rights volunteers, was organized in july.
Forgotten history bogalusa, louisiana deacons for defense. The deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Deacons for defense providing security, nonviolent civil rights protestors would not have been successful. Deacons for defense 2003 black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. The acting was very credible,i have known men like this who were pushed beyond their fear. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about.
If a client does not want deacons to use his personal data for the purposes mentioned in paragraph 4. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military. Deacons for defense is the almost forgotten but true story of a group of african american men who boldly took up arms against the ku klux klan. Many times the deacons are not written about or cited when. Most of the deacons were veterans of world war ii and the korean war. Inspired by a true story, this madeforcable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed africanamerican selfdefense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. With public attention, and the attention of the fbi focused elsewhere, the deacons lost most of their notoriety and slowly declined in influence.
Watch deacons for defense online stream full movie directv. Marcus clays answer to the violence visited upon friend and family is to form the deacons for defense. Deacons for defense provided protection when no one else would. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed selfdefense. The deacons for defense provided protection for people participating in protest marches in mississippi in 1966. The acting was very credible,i have known men like. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed self defense. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a total of 20 other chapters in this state, mississippi. Washington post columnist courtland milloy marked this years martin luther king day with an appreciative column about the deacons for defense and justice. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed africanamerican self defense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. The deacons for defense university of north carolina press. The television film stars forest whitaker, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson.
The deacons for defense and justice was created in jonesboro, louisiana by earnest chilly willy thomas and frederick douglas kirkpatrick, to protect the congress of racial equality core against ku klux klan violence. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. Nov 19, 2007 with public attention, and the attention of the fbi focused elsewhere, the deacons lost most of their notoriety and slowly declined in influence. In 1964 a small group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana, defied the nonviolence policy of the mainstream civil rights movement and formed an armed self defense organizationthe deacons for defense and justiceto protect movement workers from vigilante and police violence. Oct 19, 2016 the deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke.
Forest whitaker takes time off one of his film settings to talk to and listen to untold stories about the deacons from the hicks family. The film, produced by showtime stars academyaward winner forest. On july 10, 1964, a group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana led by earnest chilly willy thomas and frederick douglas kirkpatrick founded the group known as the deacons for defense and justice to protect members of the congress of racial equality core against ku klux klan violence. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm x s assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed selfdefense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. Watch deacons for defense starring forest whitaker in this drama on directv. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow laws by localstate government officials and racist vigilantes. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. The film is based on the struggle of the actual deacons for defense against the jim crow south in a powerful area ofbogalusa, louisiana controlled by the ku klux klan. Very nice new york times obituary of robert hicks, one of the leaders of the deacons for defense and justice in louisiana in the 1960s. Bogalusa, louisiana and franklinton, louisiana were twins when it came to racism and racial violence. In 1965 the fbi began investigating the deacons for defense and justice until early 1972 when the organization became inactive.
Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database. Only watching the movie, though, gives the impression that the deacons were a local movement that never gained much traction outside of a single town in louisiana. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u. Jan 29, 2014 a year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense. A good example of how second amendment rights were used to protect fourteenth amendment rights. The deacons for defense and justice had faced death and never.
Americas 1st freedom deacons for defense and justice. Selfdefense group united to protect black communities 1 posted by jae jones september 7, 2019 black power, latest posts. There are a series of victories and set backs for the deacons. In 1964 a clandestine armed selfdefense organization formed in the black community in jonesboro, louisiana, with the goal of protecting civil rights. The deacons were mostly black veterans of world war ii and the korean war. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. In a louisiana town in 1964, local africanamericans band together to protect themselves from violence from the kkk as well as local police. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database guns. Dec 03, 2015 the deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed selfdefense group of africanamericans that protected civil rights organizations in the u. Forgotten history bogalusa, louisiana deacons for defense brother askari august 5, 20 august 5, 20 african american history. The deacons for defense and justice national archives.
Thats because hicks is the son of robert hicks, a prominent leader of the legendary deacons for defense and justice an organization of black men in. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. In 1964 a small group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana, defied the nonviolence policy of the mainstream civil rights movement and formed an armed selfdefense organizationthe deacons for defense and justiceto protect movement workers from vigilante and police violence. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson.