- Country: USA
- Genres: Drama
- Release: 2003-02-16
- Director: Bill Duke
- Writers: Michael D’Antonio , Richard Wesley , Frank Military
- Language: English
- Stars: Forest Whitaker , Chris Britton (II) , Jonathan Silverman , Ossie Davis , Gene Mack , Tyrone Benskin , Paul Benjamin , Mpho Koaho , Melanie Nicholls-King , Serena Lee
- Runtime: 78 min
- Awards: 4 wins & 7 nominations
- AKA: Légitime défense (France, French Republic) , A védelem diakónusai (Hungary) , Zgromadzenie obronców (Poland) , Deacons for Defense , Deacons for defense - Lotta per la libertà (Italy) , Вооружённый отпор (Russian Federation) , Actions de défense (France, French Republic) , Em Defesa dos Nossos (Brazil) , Deacons for Defense (Netherlands the) , Deacons for Defense (United States of America) , Em Defesa da Honra (Brazil)
- Plot: The words "Black Power" bring back memories of names like Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, and Eldridge Cleaver, but in Bogalusa, LA a group of harassed Afro-Americans had decided they'd had enough and took up arms to defend themselves and force the white power structure to listen to them. This took place during "Freedom Summer", 1964, right after the Civil Rights Act had become law. Fact based movie stars Forest Whitaker and Ossie Davis, the former as the founder of the Deacons of Defense and Justice (DDJ) and the latter as a peaceful minister trying to prevent the unavoidable violence that will follow. The story revolves around the white-controlled factory which provides 70% of the town's income and employees 40% of its people. Segregation is still clinging on within the factory, with blacks denied the supervisory positions and forced into separate lunchrooms, bathrooms, and drinking fountains. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) has its strongest power in this area and, as the DDJ gets armed the KKK brings in more members from throughout the U.S. There will be a war!
- IMDB:tt0335034
Deacons for Defense Cast · · · ALL
Bill Duke
Director
Forest Whitaker
Marcus Clay
Jonathan Silverman
Michael Deane
Chris Britton
(II)
William Chase
Ossie Davis
Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
Tyrone Benskin
Archie
Mpho Koaho
Bailey
Melanie Nicholls-King
Rose Clay
Adam Weiner
Charles Hillibrand
Boyd Banks
Weber
Paul Benjamin
Otis
Beau Starr
Neely
Gene Mack
T.J.
Paulino Nunes
Lawson
Serena Lee
Lucille Clay
Daniel Kash
Slocum