The deacons for defense provided protection for people participating in protest marches in mississippi in 1966. Americas 1st freedom deacons for defense and justice. The deacons for defense and justice were men who stood up for their community. I browsed through the listing of movies to watch if you have amazon prime as i do. 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. For those interested in forgotten areas of american history, deacons for defense is recommended. Staring jonathan silverman, ossie davis and forest whitaker. Deacons for defense dvd, 2003 for sale online ebay. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database. 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. 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. Deacons for defense 2003 tv movie plot summary 1 the words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. Robert rehme, frank military, michael dantonio, richard wesley. Based on dantonios story and produced by showtime, it was directed by bill duke. Bob led the student nonviolent coordinating committees entry into mississippi in 1961, which meant three years of facing a repressive situation that makes the u. The deacons for defense and justice national archives. 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. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award.
The deacons were one of the first visible selfdefense forces in the south and represented a new, more assertive face of the civil rights movement, notes. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u. 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. Watch deacons for defense online stream full movie directv. Nra members and nra patriotsthe deacons for defense and justice were true american heroes. Deacons chapters emerged throughout louisiana and southwest. Today is cold and it has been raining in campbell, california and other parts of the bay area. The deacons, an african american defense group,organized to protect themselves from ongoing humiliation from the white power structure in their town. Still from the 2005 showtime movie deacons for defense, via imfdb.
Deacons of defense film i was born and raised in south carolina and the accuracy of the movie was very painful. The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke. Showtime has smartly added a small documentary on the deacons after the movie. 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. On july 10, 1964, a group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana led by earnest chilly willy thomas and frederick douglas. 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.
The deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Nominated outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries screen actors guild awards 2004 latest trailers. 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. Deacons for defense district of columbia public library.
A black man is arrested while defending his daughter during a protest, awakening a fiery passion to finally take a stand. Deacons for defense on dvd 758445109320 from showtime entertainment. Black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. I didnt catch up with bob moses until 1964, when i joined the training staff for freedom summer. This madeforcable movie tells the littleknown story of the deacons creation, with the always impressive forest whitaker starring as the groups founder, marcus a. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about. Inspired by a true story that occurred in 1965 in bogalusa, louisiana. The movie stars academyaward winner forest whitaker, with ossie davis, and jonathan silverman. Many times the deacons are not written about or cited when. Deacons for defense provided protection when no one else would.
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. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in. 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. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone.
The deacons for defense and justice in louisiana the. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks. You must ask yourself why a person should care about the characters or the plot. The film explores development of the group through events of 1964 and 1965. 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. Deacons for defense 2003 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. 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.
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 movie starts in 1965, when this town was still officially segregated. Deacons for defense, produced by showtime starring academyaward winners forest whitaker, ossie davis and jonathan silverman are. The deacons in bogalusa are the subject of a 2003 television movie, deacons for defense. For the makers bill duke of this movie to incorporate that concept of reality with the films characters was profound. The acting was very credible,i have known men like. The film is based on the struggle of the actual deacons for defense against the jim crow south in a powerful area. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely. Encouraged by an idealistic white northerner jonathan silverman, marcus organizes the deacons, an allblack defense group dedicated to.
In life, this meeting occurred not in a church, as the movie places it, but at the black labor hall. 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. The deacons for defense and justice began in the northcentral louisiana town of jonesboro in 1964, where several local black men provided congress of racial equality core field secretary ronnie moore an armed escort to monroe after klansmen tried to follow his car out of town. 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. The creation ofthe deacons is encouraged by an idealistic white northerner. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks foundation. Years before the black panthers, a black militia group known as the deacons for defense and justice rose to protect the civil rights of african americans by any means necessary. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis. The movie is another movie about vets from different wars that are defending their community.
Performances are strong across the board, the movie is stylishly directed and follows a sensible and interesting script. 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. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner. Come and experience your torrent treasure chest right here. But despite a plot where all the moves of the players are predictable, the deacons for defense succeeds in gathering sympathy from its audience. Watch deacons for defense 2003 full movie free online. Even if the characters are fictional, they are based on the experiences of people in bogalusa. It does not take long for these disciplined union men and war veterans to form an organization of selfdefense that is willing and able to meet force with force the deacons for defense and justice. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 plot summary imdb. Deacons for defense and justice wikimili, the best. Although set in the deep south, the movie was actually shot in ontario using many. The deacons for defense and justice knowledge is good. Sep 8, 2003 deacons for defense is a film based on true events that took place in bogalusa, louisiana, during the civil rights movement. Telecast during black history month, deacons for defense first aired over the showtime cable network on february 16, 2003.
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