As far as made for tv movies go, this one is top notch and is well worth a look. We are delighted to announce deacons has been awarded multiple accolades in the 2019 asianmena counsel inhouse community firm of the year awards. Nra members and nra patriotsthe deacons for defense and justice were true american heroes. 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. Fact based movie stars forest whitaker and ossie davis, the former as the founder of the deacons of defense and justice ddj and the latter as a peaceful minister trying to prevent the unavoidable violence that will follow. A littleknown episode in american history has been snatched from oblivion by tulane university professor lance hill. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u.
He has documented the pivotal events of the civil rights movement in his book, the deacons for defense. The black neighborhood got wind of it, and chose a different tactic. The deacons, an african american defense group,organized to protect themselves from ongoing humiliation from the white power structure in their town. Americas 1st freedom deacons for defense and justice.
Fbi files relating to the deacons for defense and justice. Telecast during black history month, deacons for defense first aired over the showtime cable network on february 16, 2003. The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke. Watch deacons for defense 2003 on netflix in the usa. For those interested in forgotten areas of american history, deacons for defense is recommended. Forest whitaker jonathan silverman ossie davis 2003 black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. However, with the advent of the militant black power movement, the involvement of the deacons in the civil rights movement declined, with the presence of the deacons all but vanishing by 1968. 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. Deacons for defense district of columbia public library. Selfdefense group united to protect black communities 1 posted by jae jones september 7, 2019 black power, latest posts 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. A mill worker in a racist louisiana town, marcus forms the deacons as a defense against the mounting brutality of the ku klux klan at the dawn of the 1964 civil rights act. 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. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. Deacons for defense dvd, 2003 for sale online ebay.
Stream, download deacons for defense is available to watch free on tubi tv and stream, download on. Deacons for defense provided protection when no one else would. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed self defense. You can watch recordings anytime, anywhere with your cloud dvr. A decade before the deacons for defense appeared, in montgomery, alabama, the kkk decided to do an intimidation caravan during the montgomery bus boycott. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. The deacons for defense and justice national archives.
In 1965 louisiana, an africanamerican man bristles at the racism and police brutality in his town and establishes a group to protect his community. 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. Modernising corporate culture to position hong kong for success. White civil rights workers try unsuccessfully to turn the deacons back towards martin luther kings technique of nonviolence. The deacons for defense and justice september 19, 2019 posted by george parry commentary on a hot and humid july 1964 night in jonesboro, louisiana, there occurred a series of unheralded but nevertheless pivotal events in the parallel histories of the civil rights movement and the second amendment to the u. A black man is arrested while defending his daughter during a protest, awakening a fiery passion to finally take a stand.
Inspired by a true story that occurred in 1965 in bogalusa, louisiana. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. 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. 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. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about. The deacons for defense and justice were among those providing protection as the march resumed.
Deacons wins in 2019 asianmena counsel inhouse community firm of the year awards. Deacons for defense providing security, nonviolent civil rights protestors would not have been successful. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database. In 1964, the deacons for defense and justice were formed by black men in jonesboro, louisiana to protect the black citizens and civil rights activist from the. 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. The deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Although set in the deep south, the movie was actually shot in ontario using many. But the deacons for defense are not mentioned at any point. 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. The deacons for defense and justice were men who stood up for their community. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson. The government said everyone was equal, but the government didnt. Watch deacons for defense 2003 full movie free online. Performances are strong across the board, the movie is stylishly directed and follows a sensible and interesting script.
But for a deacons defense that ranks 26th in the country in total defense, the blips in the form of opponents running free in the open field register as concerning. Deacons for defense 2003 by rarelust october 6, 2018 10. With the whole world watching, these men changed forever their lives, their town, and their country. To view this video download flash player videos 360 view images deacons for defense. The deacons for defense provided protection for people participating in protest marches in mississippi in 1966. The deacons for defense and justice is 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. See more ideas about african american history, black history and civil rights. Released 2003, deacons for defense stars forestwhitaker, jonathansilverman, ossiedavis, adamweiner the r movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 35 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. But despite a plot where all the moves of the players are predictable, the deacons for defense succeeds in gathering sympathy from its audience.
The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed selfdefense. The residents sat on their porches drinking lemonade, in party mode, as if watching a pleasant and amusing parade going by. There are occasional references to readiness for armed resistance to white violence. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow laws by localstate government officials and racist vigilantes.
Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. A year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense. 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 knowledge is good. Deacons defense sets sights on eliminating big plays.
Watch deacons for defense online watch online anytime. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. The creation ofthe deacons is encouraged by an idealistic white northerner. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military. The deacons for defense and justice was a group founded in jonesboro, louisiana, in 1964 to organize men to. Next, there is a dramatic showdown between the deacons and the klan. As the klans racist violence increases, and a team of nonviolent activists comes to town to organize, marcus armed military group becomes more and more resigned to. Most of the deacons were veterans of world war ii and the korean war. An important corrective to popular simplifications. The deacons of defense, to use the common name, was an armed group of black men that believed in fighting back rather than nonviolent acceptance in the face of racist attacks. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in.
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