Welcome, child of God! Let’s journey together in faith, truth, and love. Today I’d like to discuss something that neither the media wants you to know nor many people did know. This may disturb some, but others may understand how an injustice may be changed with prayers and hope in a person’s life when faith is required when everything else fails.
This was a difficult time for many people, but it taught them that God is always on time when they have faith in the face of adversity. This is a story that moves from hope to glory! At the end of the day, being together forever has meaning for the family of the “New Earth!”
A Shield Against Evil:
The Word of God declares in (Proverbs 24:16), “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” In the turbulent era of the 1960s, as the civil rights movement swept through the American South, there rose a group of courageous men who epitomized this scripture.
Known as the Deacons for Defense and Justice, these black military veterans were not only guardians of their communities but also a living testament to resilience against systemic oppression. This is their story—a narrative of faith, courage, and determination to shield their people from the wickedness of racism and violence.
From Combat to Community:
The Deacons for Defense and Justice were born in the small town of Jonesboro, Louisiana, in 1964. This group of black men, many of them veterans of World War II and the Korean War, had returned home only to find themselves subjected to a different kind of battle.
While they had fought overseas against fascism, they now faced the terror of white supremacy at home. The Ku Klux Klan, emboldened by decades of impunity, routinely attacked black families, burned churches, and threatened civil rights workers. The local police often turned a blind eye or, worse, actively participated in these atrocities.
Fed up with the terror and inspired by their military training, Earnest “Chilly Willy” Thomas and Frederick Douglas Kirkpatrick co-founded the Deacons for Defense. Their goal was simple yet profound: to protect their communities from Klan violence while upholding the principles of self-defense and justice.
A Biblical Mandate for Justice:
The Deacons’ mission was not only rooted in their military discipline but also in their deep Christian faith. The Bible’s admonitions against evil resonated with their cause. Consider (Isaiah 1:17), “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” For the Deacons, standing up to the Klan was not just an act of resistance but a divine mandate to protect the vulnerable.
They viewed their actions as a fulfillment of God’s call to defend the oppressed. Their rifles and pistols were not weapons of aggression but instruments of protection. They carried them with the same sense of duty they had borne on the battlefields of Europe and Asia, now wielded to guard their families and neighbors from domestic terror.
The Tactics: Courage Under Fire:
The Deacons operated with the precision and strategy of a military unit. They organized patrols, set up watch stations, and trained new members in firearm safety and combat tactics. These men were not vigilantes but disciplined defenders who understood the importance of restraint.
Their presence alone often deterred violence. The Klan, accustomed to terrorizing unarmed communities, found themselves outmatched by men who not only knew how to fight but were unafraid to do so. One notable example occurred in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a hotbed of racial tension.
When civil rights activists from the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) faced threats from the Klan, the Deacons stepped in to provide armed security. Their vigilance ensured that marches and voter registration drives could proceed without bloodshed. The Klan’s fear of the Deacons became so pronounced that some began to abandon their violent campaigns in areas where the group was active.
A Hidden Legacy: What History Prefers We Forget:
Mainstream history often overlooks the Deacons for Defense and Justice, perhaps because their story complicates the narrative of the civil rights movement as solely nonviolent. While figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are rightly celebrated, the Deacons represent another facet of resistance: the pragmatic and necessary use of self-defense.
The Deacons’ existence challenges the sanitized view of history that prefers to portray black Americans as passive recipients of change rather than active agents of their liberation. Their story reveals the depth of courage required to confront an enemy that wielded both social and institutional power.
Faith and the Fight for Freedom:
Their faith sustained them through moments of doubt and danger. They prayed before patrols, seeking God’s protection and wisdom. For them, the fight against the Klan was not just a physical battle but a spiritual one—a fight against the principalities and powers of darkness that sought to oppress their people.
The Ripple Effect: A Catalyst for Change:
The presence of the Deacons for Defense had a profound impact on the civil rights movement. Their actions forced local authorities to confront the reality of armed resistance. This, in turn, led to increased federal intervention in Southern states. The Deacons’ willingness to stand up to the Klan often shamed law enforcement into taking action against white supremacist violence.
Moreover, their example inspired other communities to form similar groups. While the Deacons never sought fame or recognition, their legacy can be seen in the broader movement for black self-determination and empowerment.
“Friends, as I wrap up this dark and then-bright fact about history’s evil, it’s not meant to split people apart but to unite those who are unaware of what has been concealed from some blacks and most whites.” Today, it is an unpleasant evil. All of this, however, will vanish on “God’s New Earth,” where there won’t be any ideas of one thing versus another. I call that freedom for everybody. With a Father who will love, teach, and never abandon you, everyone may always treasure being brothers and sisters in a Heavenly and different environment of love and peace!
But in this story, there is a legacy of righteous resistance. The story of the Deacons for Defense and Justice is a testament to the power of faith and courage in the face of our modern evil, as some in the ancient past had experienced. These men understood that true justice requires action. As (Psalm 82:3) exhorts, “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.” The Deacons did precisely that, standing as guardians of their communities when no one else would.
Their legacy reminds us that freedom is not given but won through perseverance and sacrifice. Though history may prefer to forget their names, their deeds speak volumes. They were more than just defenders; they were the embodiment of justice and righteousness, fulfilling a divine call to protect the oppressed. May their story inspire future generations to stand boldly against injustice, armed not only with courage but with the conviction that evil cannot prevail against the light of truth.
God bless everyone who was able to visit. Thank you for your trust in UNFILTERED truth!
Author and Servant; Norman G. Roy III
Deacons for Defense (full movie):
For all my wonderful Brothers and Sisters in Christ! I love each and every one of you!:
