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

from the informal groups . The Deacons had an identifiable chain ofcommand, by
laws, and in some cases badges and uniforms .
In lieu of police protection, the Deacons were formed to protect Move-
ment activists and Black communities from Klan and vigilante terrorism. Their
origins in Jonesboro, Louisiana was precipitated by a reign of terror by the Klan
in the summer of 1964 . Jonesboro is located in Jackson Parish in Northern Louisi-
ana. In 1964, People of African descent were one third of the total population of
4000. The economy of the town was centered around a papermill plant, owned by
Continental Can Company, a New York based firm . Out of the 1700 workers at
the plant only 200 were Black. The small number of Black workers were concen-
trated in unskilled positions . Most Black men in the parish worked as loggers on
the timberlands owned by Continental . Most of the employed Black women
worked as domestics and service workers . The local Progressive Voters League
invited CORE to come into their community in 1963, after years of battling for
Black suffrage . Because of CORE's presence, the local police initiated acam-
paign of harassment and intimidation. In the spring of 1964, the United Klans of
America klavem in Jonesboro increased its activities in Jonesboro . Not only were
voter registration workers in Jackson Parish harassed by local police, but beaten
in the streets of Jonesboro by white racist civilians in broad daylight . In the
evening, mobs of young whites violated the security of Black Jonesboro residents
with threatening language and behavior. Klan cross burnings also were becoming
common place in the small, mill town . In July, a group of white racists stormed
into the local CORE office and threatened the human rights worker with violence
The same month, any thoughts of receiving protection from local police was