Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association

The main organisation involved in the Civil Rights movement from the late 1960s to the 1970s. The NICRA grew out of the work of the Campaign for Social Justice (CSJ) and was modelled on the National Council for Civil Liberties based in London. The first committee of the NICRA was made up of representatives of trade unions and some of the political parties. The NICRA had a number of main aims: universal adult suffrage in local government elections; the end to 'gerrymandered' electoral boundaries; the allocation of public housing to be on the basis of need; repeal of the Special Powers Act; the disbanding of the 'B-Specials'; the end to discrimination in employment; and a system to deal with complaints of discrimination. The NICRA began to lobby for support for its aims but quickly resorted to protest action on the streets of Northern Ireland. The NICRA was asked to support a march in Derry on 5 October 1968. Although the march was banned those taking part tried to proceed along the advertised route but were stopped by a line of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers. The police baton charged the crowd and, when the television pictures were seen later in the day, riots broke out in a number of areas of Northern Ireland. This event sparked the current period of 'the Troubles'. The NICRA was engaged in the campaign of civil disobedience against the introduction of internment. Following the shooting of 28 people, 14 of whom died, at a civil rights march in Derry on 'Bloody Sunday' on 30 January 1972, the use of street protest was severely curtailed. Selection of Publications produced by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA). (1973). Proposals for Peace, Democracy and Community Reconciliation. Belfast: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. Civil Rights Association (CRA). (1972). Massacre at Derry. Derry: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA). (1973). Information Sheet on Women Internees (5 typed pages). Belfast: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA). (1978). 'We Shall Overcome' . . . . The History of the Struggle for Civil Rights in Northern Ireland 1968 - 1978. Belfast: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. See also: Chapter 4, in, Purdie, Bob. (1990). 'Politics in the Streets: The origins of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland'. Belfast: Blackstaff Press