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

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<strong>of</strong> the Deacons in Bogulusa. <strong>The</strong> leadership <strong>of</strong> the local Bogalusa Voter's League<br />

<strong>an</strong>d CORE were present at this meeting. According to FBI surveill<strong>an</strong>ce reports <strong>of</strong><br />

this meeting, Thomas in<strong>for</strong>med the Bogalusa activists what was necessary to <strong>for</strong>m<br />

a chapter <strong>of</strong> the Deacons . He also discussed what type <strong>of</strong> weapons, ammunition,<br />

<strong>an</strong>d logistical support was necessary <strong>for</strong> this level <strong>of</strong> paramilitary org<strong>an</strong>ization.<br />

According to FBI reports, the Jonesboro Deacons' spokesperson also revealed to<br />

the Bogalusa group that he had contacts in Chicago <strong>an</strong>d Houston who could<br />

supply automatic weapons . Another feature <strong>of</strong>Thomas' presentation alarmed the<br />

FBI. <strong>The</strong>y were concerned about his call <strong>for</strong> paramilitary, armed patrols to prevent<br />

law en<strong>for</strong>cement from arresting Black people <strong>an</strong>d Movement workers."<br />

<strong>The</strong> day after the meeting with Thomas, the leaders <strong>of</strong> the Voters League<br />

met to discuss the merits <strong>of</strong> <strong>for</strong>ming a Deacons chapter in Bogalusa . FBI counter-<br />

intelligence document report that Bogalusa Voters League vice-president Robert<br />

Hicks reviewed the details <strong>of</strong> the previous days meeting. According to the FBI<br />

reports, Hicks "pointed out to those in attend<strong>an</strong>ce . . .the adv<strong>an</strong>tages <strong>of</strong> arming<br />

themselves . Hicks went into detail concerning how young Negroes could defend<br />

themselves by converging on police <strong>of</strong>ficers at the time the arrest <strong>of</strong> a Negro was<br />

being made . Three days later, Hicks was visited by two FBI agents who warned<br />

him about associating with the Deacons . Despite this type <strong>of</strong> harassment,<br />

Bogalusa activists, including Hicks <strong>an</strong>d Voters League presidentA.Z. Young<br />

decided to <strong>for</strong>m a chapter <strong>of</strong> the Deacons . Besides being Voters league leaders <strong>an</strong>d<br />

org<strong>an</strong>izers <strong>of</strong> the Deacons, Hicks <strong>an</strong>d Young were playing a central role in orga-<br />

nizing Black workers at Crown Zellerbach to challenge racial discrimination at<br />

the local pl<strong>an</strong>ts . <strong>The</strong> local Black union was intimately tied to the local Movemem

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