DEFENDERS - A CASE STUDY OF AN INFORMAL POLICE ORGANIZATION

• NCJ Number: 52581
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1967) Pages: 127-147
• Author(s): H A NELSON
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems , Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE ORIGINS AND ACTIVITIES OF AN UNOFFICIAL BLACK POLICE ORGANIZATION CREATED IN A SOUTHERN COMMUNITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BLACKS NOT BEING ADEQUATELY SERVED BY THE WHITE ESTABLISHMENT.

Abstract

THE ORGANIZATION, KNOWN AS THE DEFENDERS, WAS FOUNDED IN 1964 IN THE CITY OF SOUTHVILLE AND LIMITS ITS ACTIVITIES TO THAT AREA. THE CITY, LOCATED IN THE DEEP SOUTH, IS AN INDUSTRIAL CENTER WHOSE POPULATION IS APPROXIMATELY TWO-FIFTHS BLACK. PRIOR TO 1964, THE WHITE ESTABLISHMENT HAD PERMITTED THE KU KLUX KLAN (KKK) TO OPERATE AS AN UNOFFICIAL ARM OF THE POLICE AND RACISM WAS TIGHTLY INTERTWINED WITH THE CITY'S DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. THE BLACK COMMUNITY WAS SUBJECTED TO MASSIVE INFRINGEMENTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND DENIED BASIC POLICE PROTECTION. AT ITS INCEPTION, PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS OF THE DEFENDERS WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE MILITARY COMBAT EXPERIENCE AND TO PASS RIGOROUS EXAMINATIONS DESIGNED TO TEST THEIR MORAL CHARACTER AND TRUSTWORTHINESS. THE DEFENDERS IS ORGANIZED ALONG QUASI-MILITARY LINES AND HAS SUCCEEDED IN HIDING ITS EXISTENCE AND ACTIVITIES FROM THE GENERAL WHITE PUBLIC ALTHOUGH IT HAS ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE RENOWN AMONG BLACKS. AT THE OUTSET, THE KKK AND THE POLICE OPPOSED THE DEFENDERS' ACTIVITIES. THE DEFENDERS MET THE KKK ON ITS OWN TERMS AND SUCCEEDED IN NEUTRALIZING ITS IMPACT ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THE POLICE FIRST ATTEMPTED TO HARASS THE DEFENDERS AND WHEN THIS TACTIC FAILED, WITHDREW FROM THE SCENE ALTOGETHER. THE DEFENDERS BEGAN TO PERFORM THE PROTECTIVE POLICE FUNCTION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, BOTH BLACK AND WHITE. ALONG WITH THE PROTECTIVE FUNCTION, THE DEFENDERS ALSO CONDUCTS EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATIVE AND INFORMATION GATHERING FUNCTIONS. IT MAY BE STIRRED INTO ACTION EITHER BY COMPLAINTS OR UPON ITS OWN INITIATIVE. THE DEFENDERS HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL FORCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, PROMOTING PEACE BETWEEN THE RACES, ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF EQUALITY, AND ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN THE REDISTRIBUTION OF POWER NECESSARY IN THE WAKE OF THE DOWNFALL OF THE TRADITIONAL RACIST POWER STRUCTURE.