Eye for an Eye: The Role of Armed Resistance ... - Freedom Archives

Reeves family had a history of being "bad Negroes ." Mr. and Mrs . Reeveses had
reputations of being outspoken as well as participation in the NAACP The
Reeve's also housed COFO workers and volunteers participating in the Summer
Project. Due to their reputation and involvement in the local Movement, the
Reeves had received threats from white supremacists . For three months after the
bombing of Claude Bryant's home, Carl Reeves participated in the patrol of
Bryant's home . Mrs. Annie Reeves and son William, with assistance from neigh-
bors, took responsibility for the defense of their home in the evening. After re-
ceiving threats, the Reeves contacted the local police and proclaimed "y'all won't
catch `em, but we'll catch `em ." Responding to the counter-threats of the Reeves,
the police instructed the family "don't shoot the man, shoot the tires (of the
vehicle of the nightriders) ." In the evenings Mrs . Reeves, armed with a rifle,
watched with the lights out from her living room. Her teenaged son William,
participated in an armed watch of the house from the porch . The Reeves teenaged
neighbor Eddie Williams and other young neighbors patrolled the perimeter of
their house with rifles .
The Reeves were just one example of families working together to protect
their lives and property. NAACP member Matthew Nobles slept on the roof of his
house with a rifle to anticipate nightriders . While Nobles was on the roof, his wife
slept with the window open and a rifle at her side . Mrs. Nobles left the window
open so the sound of any vehicle in their neighborhood would wake her up.' The
Reeveses, the Nobles, as well as Charles and Ora Bryant are examples of how
households became virtual militia units to defend the Black communities of
McComb .
160