- [dropping two civil right workers off at the county line]
- Lawson: Now the only reason you boys ain't hurtin' is because you got the same skin color as God. But this is a one-time pass. Remember what happened to those northern boys in Mississippi.
- [Sheriff smacks Deane across the mouth]
- Lawson: Y'all know which way to go.
- [Sheriff drives away then Deane walks back]
- Michael Deane: Let's go.
- Charles Hillibrand: What are you kidding me?
- Michael Deane: No, I'm not kidding.
- Charles Hillibrand: They're not fooling around, Michael. They *will* kill us. Why are you willing to die for this? Do you hear me?
- Michael Deane: Why, Charlie? Because our skin, is *not* the same color as God's.
- [Getting ready to start the armed patrols of their neighborhood]
- Marcus Clay: We started with five men. Now look at us- larger, stronger.
- [shouts]
- Marcus Clay: Let me hear it.
- All: [shouting] Yes, sir.
- Marcus Clay: Each squad stays within 100 yards of the other squad. Use your whistles. Don't start talkin' and bunchin' up with other squads. Use your eyes. See them before they see you. All right, let's go.
- [shouts]
- Marcus Clay: Never again.
- All: [shouting] Never again.
- Marcus Clay: [shouts] Till peace comes at last.
- All: [shouting] Till peace comes at last.
- Marcus Clay: [shouts] Deacons for defense.
- All: [shouting] Deacons for defense.
- Marcus Clay: [shouts] Deacons for defense.
- All: [shouting] Deacons for defense.
- Marcus Clay: [shouts] Deacons for defense.
- All: [shouting] Deacons for defense.
- Marcus Clay: [shouts] Deacons for defense.
- All: [shouting] Deacons for defense.
- Marcus Clay: [shouts] Go do it.
- All: [shouting] Yeah
- [leading KKK rally]
- William Chase: Now we have a white company like Patterson Paper telling us how to run our lives. Taking our jobs. Spreading communism and niggerism to our community. They are taking our way of life. Tonight, I ask you to stand tall... stand proud... exalt in your whiteness... in your intelligence... in your superiority. It's our turn now. White Power, rain down on this great country of ours.
- [shouts]
- William Chase: White power.
- All: [shouting] White power.
- William Chase: [shouts] White power.
- All: [shouting] White power.
- William Chase: [shouts] White power.
- All: [shouting] White power.
- William Chase: [shouts] White power.
- All: [shouting] White power.
- [Some members want Marcus removed as leader of the Deacons]
- Rev. Gregory: I have been living in fear of the Klan all my life. Was bred in me as a child, and it made me less than a man. But all of that has changed because of you. You freed me, son. You woke up something in me, so don't you stop. Don't you dare stop. And tomorrow, I'm gonna be marching with you, and I'm gonna march every day to change what's happening down here. And there ain't gonna be no change in leadership. Ain't gonna be no steppin' down. Marcus is still in charge.
- [filmed evidence of KKK activity by local leaders is presented to a judge]
- Christenberry: I'm looking at photos and films of Bogalusa, and all I see are Confederate flags. Is there not one American flag in the town of Bogalusa?
- [discussing ways to fight the Klan]
- Archie: But Marcus, ain't we taking this a little too far?
- T.J.: It's called for, and you know it, Archie.
- Marcus Clay: If this is an army of one, then this is an army of one. I gave my word.
- Otis: Gentlemen, I've been waiting for this day, my whole life.
- Michael Deane: I don't want you to be ashamed of a damn thing. Truth is, only reason anyone listens to us at all is 'cause they're too afraid to deal with you.
- Michael Deane: Do you know what the Klan is, Mr. Garrison? Because for me, coming from up north, this has been one eye-opening experience.
- Garrison: I know what the Klan is.
- Michael Deane: I don't think you do. The Klan is not beer-drinking rednecks with sheets on their heads. The Klan is an incredibly violent paramilitary fascist organization that dictates to the police, the local government, the school boards. It's more murderous, pervasive, and influential than any criminal organization in the United States, including the Mafia, and the only reason that Hoover and the rest of the world is not up in arms about it is because their victims are black.