Deacons for Defense (film)
| Deacons for Defense | |
|---|---|
| Written by |
Michael D'Antonio (story) Richard Wesley (teleplay) Frank Military (teleplay) |
| Directed by | Bill Duke |
| Starring |
Forest Whitaker Christopher Britton Ossie Davis Jonathan Silverman Adam Weiner Marcus Johnson |
| Theme music composer | Michel Colombier |
| Country of origin |
United States Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Robert Rehme |
| Editor(s) |
Harry Keramidas (editor) David Rosenberg (assistant editor) |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original release |
|
Deacons for Defense is a 2003 American television drama film directed by Bill Duke. The television film stars; Forest Whitaker, Christopher Britton, Ossie Davis, Jonathan Silverman, Adam Weiner, and Marcus Johnson.
It is loosely based on the true story of the Deacons for Defense and Justice, an African-American militia that was formed in 1964 to protect activists working with the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE), as well as others working with the Civil Rights Movement.
Plot
In 1965 Louisiana, war veteran Marcus (Forest Whitaker) works in the town's mill for meager wages, and must endure the ongoing humiliation meted out by his white supervisors. Encouraged by an idealistic white Northerner (Jonathan Silverman), his daughter becomes a civil rights activist. When his daughter is abused at a nonviolent demonstration, Marcus is pushed too far. Marcus organizes the Deacons for Defense and Justice, an all-black defense group dedicated to patrolling the black section of town and protecting its residents from the aspects of "white backlash".
Main cast
- Forest Whitaker as Marcus Clay
- Ossie Davis as Rev. Gregory
- Christopher Britton as William Chase
- Jonathan Silverman as Michael Deane
- Tyrone Benskin as Archie
- Paul Benjamin as Otis
- Melanie Nicholls-King as Rose Clay
- Adam Weiner as Charles Hillibrand
- Gene Mack as TJ
- Mpho Koaho as Baily
- Rufus Crawford as Deacon
- Brian Paul as Holden
- Timothy Burd as Lester Conley
- David Black as Alphin
- Marcus Johnson as Young Marcus
- Joe Bostick as City Attorney
- Francis X. McCarthy as Christenberry
- Shawn Corbett as Federal Agent
- Matt Birman as Rioter
- Craig Eldridge as US Attorney
- Patricia Shirley as Church Singer
- Sharon Riley as Church Singer
- Quancetia Hamilton as Woman