11 January 1969 - Newry civil rights march ends in riot
A civil rights march organised by the Newry People's Democracy committee was abandoned
after it had been stopped for an hour by police. A decision to reroute the march had
been taken on 09 January 1969 based on information that a counter-demonstration
was planned - Major Ronald Bunting had given notice of "a trooping of colours and cavalcade."
Following events at Burntollet and Derry, there was a ground-swell of support
for the Newry civil rights march.
The march leaders had intended that there would be a token breach of police barriers followed by an announcement
that several public buildings had been occupied in protest. However, by
the time the leaders reached the police cordon, a large crowd was already
blocking the route. After a stand-off, this group, which had been ahead of the
main body of marchers, attempted to rush the barrier.
The stewards were unable to keep all of the crowd back, and police tenders were attacked
and burned. A number of civil rights leaders, including John Hume, addressed the
crowd and asked that they disperse. Many did so, but hundreds stayed.
Rioting continued into the early hours of the morning. Afterwards, civil rights campaigners
condemned those who had been involved in violence. Poor organisation and communication had meant
that the leaders had not been able to control the
5,000-strong march once it had been halted by police. | 
Look & Listen...
