Posted on 04/26/2010 5:12:23 AM PDT by marktwain
Someone had called to say the Ku Klux Klan was coming to bomb Robert Hicks’s house. The police said there was nothing they could do. It was the night of Feb. 1, 1965, in Bogalusa, La. Associated Press
Robert Hicks in 1965, the year of a sit-in by blacks at a cafe in Bogalusa, La., where he lived.
The Klan was furious that Mr. Hicks, a black paper mill worker, was putting up two white civil rights workers in his home. It was just six months after three young civil rights workers had been murdered in Philadelphia, Miss.
Mr. Hicks and his wife, Valeria, made some phone calls. They found neighbors to take in their children, and they reached out to friends for protection. Soon, armed black men materialized. Nothing happened.
Less than three weeks later, the leaders of a secretive, paramilitary organization of blacks called the Deacons for Defense and Justice visited Bogalusa. It had been formed in Jonesboro, La., in 1964 mainly to protect unarmed civil rights demonstrators from the Klan. After listening to the Deacons, Mr. Hicks took the lead in forming a Bogalusa chapter, recruiting many of the men who had gone to his house to protect his family and guests.
Mr. Hicks died of cancer at his home in Bogalusa on April 13 at the age of 81, his wife said. He was one of the last surviving Deacon leaders.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Once again, the Slimes shows us it is WHO defends themselves that makes it ok.
However will they tell about the local militia led by Condeleeza Rice’s father to defend against the Klan? Or that it was trained by the NRA?
Or will the Slimes admit that the Kluckers are Democrats?
Wonderful to learn this! Who cares that the NYT shows its hypocrisy, they’re showing the truth here and it always helps when the truth comes out to more people!
God speed Mr. Hicks! Thank you for your service.
Can’t have the 1st without the 2nd Amendment (can’t have either without assuming our God-given dignity) - can’t have freedom without those willing to fight to the death for it somewhere nearby.
The nonviolent types can do the chanting and singing and swaying because the prepared and strong types are standing nearby, within sight of the tyrrants. This guy sounds like Clarence Thomas’ grandpa.
No, and good luck getting a letter to the editor pointing out such an inconvenient fact published! Maybe as a reply post in their online site, if it doesn't get ZOTTED.
I grew up in Jonesboro, LA. I remember the civil rights marches and integration of schools, etc. My graduation class of 1968 was the second integrated graduating class of the local high school.
The Deacons for Defense I don’t recall. The two names associated with the group, I don’t recall. I’ll need to visit with some older townfolk and see what they remember.
I recall the “test cases” of integration at the library and local restaurant and actually saw the one at the library. One of the prominent leaders was one Percy Lee Bradford, who is mentioned as one of the organizers of the Deacons for Defense group.
The family still lives in Jonesboro.
But I just can’t recall any talk around town about the AA’s arming themselves - such activity would have been hot gossip.
But that was 46 years ago and I was but 14 then. I’m going to make some inquiries.
Silly me. And here I thought all gun owners were racist redneck White male terrorists.
/sarc
RIP.
Some of the people in this book I know/knew personally. Jonesboro Police Chief Adrian Peevy’s (pg. 22) wife was my fourth grade teacher. Both deceased. Deputy W. D. McBride (pg 33) is the father of my college roommate. He’s still alive. Deputy Van Beasley (pg 39) was later elected sheriff of Jackson Parish and served for many years. He lives down the road from my in-laws and is still alive.
Margaret Temple’s (pg. 36) name is misspelled. It was Templeton and she’s deceased.
I’ve still got on my to-do list to talk to some locals and see what they remember.
Thats a pretty rich slice of history you have there. I hope you’re taking notes.
Rich vein indeed.
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