1. Hill, Lance Edward. “The Deacons for ... - Freedom Archives

More documents

Recommendations

Info

TABLE OF CON71NTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv CHAPTER 1 . Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I The early Civil Rights Movement in Jonesboro, Louisiana 2 . The Art of Self-Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The beginnings of armed self-defense in Jonesboro 3 . The Justice and Defense Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 The Deacons for Defense and Justice form in Jonesboro 4. The New York Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 First national publicity for the Deacons 5 . NotSelma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 The spring 1965 campaign in Jonesboro 6. The Magic City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I09 The early Civil Rights Movement in Bogalusa, Louisiana 7. The Bogalusa Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 The formation of the Bogalusa Deacons chapter 8 . The Spring Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 The Deacons challenge the Klan in Bogalusa
9 . With a Single Bullet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 The Klan vanquished in Bogalusa 10 . Creating the Myth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 The Deacons' changing media image 11 . Expanding Through the South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Deacons chapters established in Louisiana 12 . Mississippi and Beyond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Deacons chapters in Mississippi and the South 13 . Up-South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .340 Organizing efforts in the North 14 . Foundering in the North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371 The Chicago chapter 15 . A Long Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .407 Bogalusa events from fall 1965 to 1967 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .433
Page 1 and 2: THE DEACONS FOR DEFENSE AND JUSTICE
Page 3: © Copyright by Lance Edward Hill,
Page 7 and 8: Chapter One Beginnings Paul Farmer
Page 9 and 10: In the nineteenth century the pine
Page 11 and 12: Incorporated in 1903, the town was
Page 13 and 14: organization provided a respite fro
Page 15 and 16: interested in gaining personal favo
Page 17 and 18: conservative stance frequently made
Page 19 and 20: advocated direct action and militan
Page 21 and 22: during a demonstration . "When I he
Page 23 and 24: advantage of engaging a distant ene
Page 25 and 26: A graver danger was posed by Klan a
Page 27 and 28: welcomed children of all colors. He
Page 29 and 30: But like most black men in the Sout
Page 31 and 32: want people to get hurt ." Patterso
Page 33 and 34: enough fear that the conflict was m
Page 35 and 36: Chapter 2 The Art of Self-Defense A
Page 37 and 38: Peevy issued the squad an old polic
Page 39 and 40: the vote as key to transforming the
Page 41 and 42: that they had to turn around . He o
Page 43 and 44: If the harassment was intended to d
Page 45 and 46: Within a few hours of the restauran
Page 47 and 48: police, drove directly to Police Ch
Page 49 and 50: Within a few days, a determined gro
Page 51 and 52: Armed with the new defense goup and
Page 53 and 54: Chapter 3 The Justice and Defense C
Page 55 and 56:
civil rights organizations . By the
Page 57 and 58:
individualism . Creating a new orga
Page 59 and 60:
the journey to Jonesboro . They wov
Page 61 and 62:
During the civil rights movement, t
Page 63 and 64:
The role ofwomen in the new organiz
Page 65 and 66:
1964 : "Justice and Defense Club ."
Page 67 and 68:
and recommended that CORE organize
Page 69 and 70:
schedules and equipment purchases .
Page 71 and 72:
esisted integration by closing its
Page 73 and 74:
dissembling, the informants became
Page 75 and 76:
comprised approximately twenty memb
Page 77 and 78:
ground . Bethany Baptist Church als
Page 79 and 80:
against the movement had been a mai
Page 81 and 82:
Deacons would "become a civic organ
Page 83 and 84:
communities dependent on external r
Page 85 and 86:
nationalism in New York comprised m
Page 87 and 88:
Mention of weapons and armed self-d
Page 89 and 90:
on the good will ofthe dominant gro
Page 91 and 92:
Kirkpatrick's problem with his blac
Page 93 and 94:
momentum to the rumor by discussing
Page 95 and 96:
handful of books and rows ofempty s
Page 97 and 98:
only as the "Citizens Highway Patro
Page 99 and 100:
He had taken only a few steps when
Page 101 and 102:
"I was scared as shit . It looked l
Page 103 and 104:
possessing two concealed weapons .
Page 105 and 106:
the boycott was the black community
Page 107 and 108:
mayor demurred, claiming that there
Page 109 and 110:
The Jonesboro community was not det
Page 111 and 112:
considered having Louisiana Attorne
Page 113 and 114:
hearts of black men and women ; sti
Page 115 and 116:
Chapter 6 The Magic City In 1905 tw
Page 117 and 118:
Great Southern also segregated jobs
Page 119 and 120:
A futile nine-month strike lasted f
Page 121 and 122:
The path to Bogalusa for the Jonesb
Page 123 and 124:
of the city government, and that th
Page 125 and 126:
1964, the Klan conducted its first
Page 127 and 128:
Night riders silently cruised by Co
Page 129 and 130:
Bogalusa Mayor Jesse Cutrer and Pol
Page 131 and 132:
and his followers were not welcome
Page 133 and 134:
Zellerbach realized the consequence
Page 135 and 136:
testing of public accommodations .
Page 137 and 138:
tests . "Everybody was feeling good
Page 139 and 140:
Bob and Jackie Hicks sat down for d
Page 141 and 142:
calls to CORE contacts around the c
Page 143 and 144:
Chapter 7 The Bogalusa Chapter The
Page 145 and 146:
alert authorities and the media to
Page 147 and 148:
talk . The FBI agent opened the caf
Page 149 and 150:
hour protection for CORE-no doubt t
Page 151 and 152:
and economic inequality . Their leg
Page 153 and 154:
subsequent investigation revealed t
Page 155 and 156:
Both Governor McKeithen and Mayor C
Page 157 and 158:
On the morning of the 21st, Charlie
Page 159 and 160:
Kirkpatrick and Thomas plunged into
Page 161 and 162:
155 I leaders . Thomas even offered
Page 163 and 164:
pursuers . The men hastily discusse
Page 165 and 166:
Chapter 8 The Spring Campaign Bogal
Page 167 and 168:
twenty-one entries dating back to 1
Page 169 and 170:
nevertheless an articulate and disa
Page 171 and 172:
even when I got ready to get offhe
Page 173 and 174:
the Viola Liuzzo murder, President
Page 175 and 176:
and to conduct "interviews" to disc
Page 177 and 178:
Klansmen ordered Shepherd to leave
Page 179 and 180:
On March 28 the Voters League organ
Page 181 and 182:
The northern students plunged into
Page 183 and 184:
Millers . "Filthy rich . He, a big
Page 185 and 186:
sign on the coffins read, "Here lie
Page 187 and 188:
for equal economic opportunity in p
Page 189 and 190:
Tension hung over Bogalusa like an
Page 191 and 192:
Cutrer emerged from City Hall to ad
Page 193 and 194:
Klan robes--one of them wearing a l
Page 195 and 196:
at another Voters League rally, off
Page 197 and 198:
Bogalusa . Humphrey contacted CORE'
Page 199 and 200:
Orleans attorney with ties to CORE,
Page 201 and 202:
the park. The group kicked and beat
Page 203 and 204:
Chapter 9 With a Single Bullet The
Page 205 and 206:
Though the day had been a setback f
Page 207 and 208:
$25,000 reward for the killers, but
Page 209 and 210:
the evening ofJune 28 Fletcher Ande
Page 211 and 212:
organization : Austin was only twen
Page 213 and 214:
Bogalusa jail to mislead the white
Page 215 and 216:
Governor McKeithen was not as enthu
Page 217 and 218:
struggle with nonviolence and to cl
Page 219 and 220:
only days after the Crowe shooting,
Page 221 and 222:
providing financial support that wa
Page 223 and 224:
cease unlawful arrests, threats of
Page 225 and 226:
indignant editorial in defense of S
Page 227 and 228:
threatened confiscation. It was a p
Page 229 and 230:
Simultaneous to withdrawing his sta
Page 231 and 232:
On July 16 the Justice Department b
Page 233 and 234:
Shelton told some four-hundred Klan
Page 235 and 236:
prosecuted : "Mr. Doar, You have In
Page 237 and 238:
lacktopping streets and installing
Page 239 and 240:
opportunity to project an image . I
Page 241 and 242:
The Times article marked Earnest Th
Page 243 and 244:
new areas, they could no longer be
Page 245 and 246:
The paper also highlighted Kirkpatr
Page 247 and 248:
ecause law enforcement refused to p
Page 249 and 250:
say they have grenades and machine
Page 251 and 252:
and Alabama. "These groups are all
Page 253 and 254:
In part, the shift was a consequenc
Page 255 and 256:
supported and was "well on their wa
Page 257 and 258:
unaggressive and martially inferior
Page 259 and 260:
South learned about the Deacons thr
Page 261 and 262:
Deacons are unarmed and are totally
Page 263 and 264:
average white man doesn't . I've ne
Page 265 and 266:
however," noted Ebony, "the Deacons
Page 267 and 268:
The media also lost interest in the
Page 269 and 270:
From 1964 to 1966, the Deacons deve
Page 271 and 272:
Kirkpatrick also took the lead in o
Page 273 and 274:
of the insurgent WPUCFM. The planne
Page 275 and 276:
munitions plant, economically indep
Page 277 and 278:
evival courthouse in the center of
Page 279 and 280:
principal at Mayfield High School .
Page 281 and 282:
More meaningful was the change in b
Page 283 and 284:
"Nearly everyone seemed to be paral
Page 285 and 286:
same day CORE met with twenty-four
Page 287 and 288:
their example ofovercoming fear, ha
Page 289 and 290:
and a pistol in the glove compartrn
Page 291 and 292:
dynamite bomb exploded underneath t
Page 293 and 294:
But I'll send them to hell with the
Page 295 and 296:
Reverend Avery Alexander, a legenda
Page 297 and 298:
experience with the Deacons with un
Page 299 and 300:
enough high-speed chases with the K
Page 301 and 302:
MFDP's invitation to the Deacons re
Page 303 and 304:
Chapter 12 Mississippi and Beyond A
Page 305 and 306:
Young, a member of the Natchez Deac
Page 307 and 308:
consciousness among Natchez blacks
Page 309 and 310:
seeing snipers firing from rooftops
Page 311 and 312:
chorus : "We're going to kill for f
Page 313 and 314:
The group set about build'mg an o r
Page 315 and 316:
young blacks attempted to attack a
Page 317 and 318:
Within seconds the Deacons converge
Page 319 and 320:
Typically, most Deacons chapters re
Page 321 and 322:
dropped out of high school in ninth
Page 323 and 324:
want to come to the point to have t
Page 325 and 326:
targeted stores . `'There was a lit
Page 327 and 328:
Equipment, and cars that are radio
Page 329 and 330:
The end ofthe boycott brought an en
Page 331 and 332:
would, in turn, pressure municipal
Page 333 and 334:
Early in the boycott Evers recruite
Page 335 and 336:
In addition to patrolling, their du
Page 337 and 338:
President ofthe Woodville Chapter a
Page 339 and 340:
traveled the twenty miles to neighb
Page 341 and 342:
Mississippi from 1965 to 1966 . Rec
Page 343 and 344:
demonstration on August 14, 1965 at
Page 345 and 346:
The Deacons' organizing efforts in
Page 347 and 348:
duties . Sims normally collected ch
Page 349 and 350:
their willingness to challenge the
Page 351 and 352:
leader who had descended on Bogalus
Page 353 and 354:
In the fall of 1965 an unidentified
Page 355 and 356:
Hicks and Sims returned for a secon
Page 357 and 358:
speaking event before a group of 15
Page 359 and 360:
Robert F . Williams was an icon for
Page 361 and 362:
Officially, SNCC did not discourage
Page 363 and 364:
had little luck in moving them towa
Page 365 and 366:
RAM quickly established themselves
Page 367 and 368:
with RAM's director, Don Freeman .
Page 369 and 370:
Philadelphia was the next organizin
Page 371 and 372:
Discussions about forming ACT began
Page 373 and 374:
A . Rayner and Nahaz Rogers from Ch
Page 375 and 376:
several Southern cities . Hobson la
Page 377 and 378:
Chapter 14 Foundering in the North
Page 379 and 380:
kind of people." Reverend Lynward S
Page 381 and 382:
Government, "the man," had anointed
Page 383 and 384:
not the lack of skills . But inequa
Page 385 and 386:
was joined by Ray McCoy, a wealthy
Page 387 and 388:
and ordered Comelius to "cease and
Page 389 and 390:
preposterous claim that he was summ
Page 391 and 392:
immediately protested Thomas' prese
Page 393 and 394:
unless I have assurances I will not
Page 395 and 396:
everyone agreed with McI{.issick .
Page 397 and 398:
The Meredith March ended without in
Page 399 and 400:
told the Cubans that he wanted to v
Page 401 and 402:
two weeks in China, Thomas departed
Page 403 and 404:
meals in a luxurious setting, compl
Page 405 and 406:
allot . It was an obvious attempt t
Page 407 and 408:
movement . But Lucy Montgomery was
Page 409 and 410:
anticipating more problems in Missi
Page 411 and 412:
There were reports of Deacon organi
Page 413 and 414:
Chapter 15 A Long Time The Deacons'
Page 415 and 416:
in the year Bogalusa students had m
Page 417 and 418:
emaining adult leader on the scene,
Page 419 and 420:
"blaming, Warning, Warning," read o
Page 421 and 422:
efore the court. Christmas told the
Page 423 and 424:
that the Klan had been behind most
Page 425 and 426:
Deprived of the ability to mobilize
Page 427 and 428:
Newspapers on hand when the graves
Page 429 and 430:
Thomas Bennett, of Bogalusa, confes
Page 431 and 432:
provoked a near-hysterical response
Page 433 and 434:
The League organized a second march
Page 435 and 436:
The last leg of the march tested th
Page 437 and 438:
out in Baton Rouge's black neighbor
Page 439 and 440:
Papers and Archival Collections : W
Page 441 and 442:
Fen:on, Charles . Interview by auth
Page 443 and 444:
Woods, Moses, Sr. Interview by auth
Page 445 and 446:
Williams, Robert F . Negroes With G
Page 447:
Biography Lance E. Hill was born De
show all

1. Hill, Lance Edward. “The Deacons for ... - Freedom Archives

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?