Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

I am writing on behalf of the FDK Foundation, local C.O.R.E members, concerned community citizens of Jonesboro, Louisiana, and the Jackson Parish NAACP. Over the past weeks, we have had several conference calls and community meetings with community members who have great concerns with the historical marker for the Deacons, including the proposed location, safety, and visibility to the community.

My grandfather Frederick Douglas Kirkpatrick and uncle Earnest Thomas founded the Deacons for Defense in November 1964 to protect civil rights workers, their families, and the Black community against the local KKK. When these two men organized a twenty men group to protect the citizens of Jonesboro, the Deacons were formed. This was followed by 23 multiple-affiliated chapters in four states. Their presence meant that the Klan would no longer be able to intimidate and terrorize local African Americans without challenge.

We have sent several letters to the lieutenant governor, mayor, and town council members in hopes of scheduling a meeting to provide an opportunity for those who were active during that time and family members to share input. Several years ago, former mayor Leslie Thompson spearheaded this project, including community participation in choosing its location near Hudson and Main Street downtown. The current mayor James Harris has refused to meet with us but has decided to place the marker in a location far from the highway without any formal town council or community engagement.

Because of these same types of shenanigans, the current mayor has a recall petition with over 800 signatures turned into the Jackson Parish voters registration office on June 26, 2023. It will be sent to the state voter's registration for a recall election in ten days. In addition, Mr. James Bradford, a former mayor and advisor to the current mayor, contacted me and stated it wasn't going to the downtown location because they didn't want it there. He also told me that I better not come back to Jonesboro. We can only assume that "they" must be within the White power structure because Black community members have overwhelmingly voted for it to be placed downtown. We are fighting the same battle the Deacons fought 60 years ago.

This article is to share that there will be a protest held by members of the FDK Foundation, other deacon family members, C.O.R.E. community members, and the NAACP. The protest will take place at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center, 160 Industrial Drive, Jonesboro, Louisiana, at 1:00 PM, Thursday, June 6, 2023, where the Lieutenant Governor will do the presentation.

We have asked for a cease and desist from both mayors and the lieutenant governor's office. Since they are continuing with this injustice, we can only assume that neither the mayor's office nor the lieutenant governor is concerned with the wishes of the African American community who simply want their voices heard.

Thank you in advance for your support. For more info, call 318-450-2826.