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. Ed pincus, the films subject, an african american man named panola from. The deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Inspired by a true story, this madeforcable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke. Deacons for defense provided protection when no one else would. Forgotten history bogalusa, louisiana deacons for defense. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed selfdefense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. The deacons for defense university of north carolina press.
Despite the act, the africanamerican citizens of bogalusa are still treated like thirdclass citizens, their fundamental rights as human beings persistently trampled by the white power structure, in general, and the local branch of the kkk. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. This is the true story of a group of african american men who took an aggressive and armed stand in the fight for civil rights. 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. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis.
This documentary film was shot in 1965 in natchez, mississippi and first released in the fall of 1967. Deacons for defense on dvd 758445109320 from showtime entertainment. 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. 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 television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson. Its a provocative look into the heart of a courageous and progressive radical.
Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. The film, produced by showtime stars academyaward winner forest. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. There were no passive sitins for the deacons of defense. Deacons for defense 2003 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. A television movie, deacons for defense 2003, directed by bill duke and starring forest whitaker, was aired about the 1965 events in bogalusa. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. They were members of the deacons for defense and justice, a black self defense organization that had already engaged the klan in several shooting skirmishes. Nov 03, 2017 deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. Dec 03, 2015 the deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. Deacons for defense and justice by david kopel on april 26, 2010 6.
Deacons for defense and justice, a black selfdefense organization that had. 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. 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 words black power bring back memories of names like stokely. Nominated outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries screen actors guild awards 2004 latest trailers. Deacons for defense forest whitaker jonathan silverman ossie davis 2003 black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about. Synopsis there were no passive sitins for the deacons of defense. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u.
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 2003 posters the movie database tmdb. 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. Hicks was a leader of the deacons for defense and justice in the 1960s, a grassroots selfdefense force that protected civil rights workers and africanamericans trying to register to vote and. The deacons for defense and justice freedom archives. In his deacons for defense, lance hill directs long overdue attention to the deacons for defense dfd and what he rightly calls, the myth of nonviolence. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database guns.
The seven, often known as the seven deacons, were leaders elected by the early christian church to minister to the community of believers in jerusalem, to enable the apostles to concentrate on prayer and the ministry of the word and to address a concern raised by greekspeaking believers about their widows being overlooked in the daily diakonia or ministry. 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. The deacons for defense provided protection for people participating in protest marches in mississippi in 1966. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan. Come and experience your torrent treasure chest right here. Ashter thermoforming of single and multilayer laminates plastic films. Staring jonathan silverman, ossie davis and forest whitaker.
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. 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 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana. Feb 06, 2016 hicks was a leader of the deacons for defense and justice in the 1960s, a grassroots selfdefense force that protected civil rights workers and africanamericans trying to register to vote and. Although set in the deep south, the movie was actually shot in ontario using many. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed self defense. The story follows the formation of local black men.
Deacons for defense providing security, nonviolent civil rights protestors would not have been successful. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military. 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. 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. Sims, president, bogalusa chapter, deacons for defense and justice, conducted by william price, reporter for the national guardian newsweekly, on august 20, 1965, in bogalusa, louisiana. 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. Talbot, the history of leo the deacon, byzantine military expansion in the 10th century. The deacons for defense and justice was a group founded in jonesboro, louisiana, in 1964 to organize men to guard the homes of activists and to protect them while. The film is based on the struggle of the actual deacons for defense against the jim crow south in a powerful area.
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. Inspired by a true story, this drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. Inspired by a true story, this made for cable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military the film is loosely based on the activities of the deacons. The deacons were mostly black veterans of world war ii and the korean war. Charles sims was the founder of the deacons for defense and justice. 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. This organization was characterized as a black militant vigilante. Deacons for defense, produced by showtime starring academyaward winners forest whitaker, ossie davis and jonathan silverman are still being shown across the nation and in different parts of the world. They were members of the deacons for defense and justice, a black selfdefense organization that had already engaged the klan in several shooting skirmishes. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award. Deacons for defense 2003 posters the movie database. Deacons for defense and justice the volokh conspiracy. In 1965 the fbi began investigating the deacons for defense and justice until early 1972 when the organization became inactive.
Many times the deacons are not written about or cited when. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. None of the movies about that time portray the extreme poverty, which was more like in the movie the color purple. The deacons for defense and justice was a group founded in jonesboro, louisiana, in 1964 to organize men to guard the. Its a provocative look into the heart of a courageous and progressive radical movement during one of the most turbulent times in american history. Based in local churches, the deacons for defense and justice set up armed patrol car systems in cities such as bogalusa and jonesboro, louisiana. Sims formed the ddj after local police escorted a klan march through a black neighborhood in jonesboro, louisiana. The deacons for defense and justice national archives. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database.
The klansmen on one side and the deacons on the other. A black man is pushed too far by the racist abuse and unprovoked violent assaults meted out by white bigots in the 1960s, and organises a defence group to fight back. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. Deacons for defense 2003 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. A year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense.
The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed selfdefense. Aldini, biomarkers for antioxidant defense and oxidative damage 2010. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks. Standing in the street only a few feet from the klan, was a line of grim, unyielding black men.