On Sunday November 16th, the 40th anniversary of Derry’s largest-ever civil rights march, will be marked by the screening of the film “We Shall Overcome“, prior to which the audience will be addressed by civil rights leaders such as Nobel Laureate, John Hume, Ivan Cooper, Denis Haughey and a 1967 co-founder of the movement, local author and historian Fionnbarra O’Dochartaigh. This cross-community event will be held at the Criterion Ballroom, 23Foyle Street, commencing at 8 p.m.The documentary was commissioned by the Civil Rights 1968 Commemoration Committee to mark the movement’s emergence on the streets, across the Six Counties, which began with the Coalisland to Dungannon demonstration in the summer of 1968. Besides those already named it features interviews with Austin Currie, Anne Devlin, Michael Farrell, Ken Maginnis and Edwina Stewart, and includes television and radio material from the RTE Archives. A special feature includes bonus 1968 footage supplied by UTV.
This will be one of the last 1968-69 commemorative events to be held in Derry and is being referred to as a civil rights re-union. Local veterans and others from further afield are expected to attend, many of whom have not met personally since those dramatic days which were pivotal in politically transforming the local status quo, on diverse fronts, as well as having a major impact amongst Irish-Americans which in turn dramatically changed Anglo-Irish relations.
Admission is free of charge but as seating is restricted, and demand has been so intense over recent days, those wishing to obtain the limited number of invitations currently available are requested to collect such at 23 Foyle Street or ring the local civil rights’ veterans’ office, any evening after 6 pm on 028-71-286359.
A buffet supper, music and bar will be provided at the close of this historic commemorative event. Civil rights memorabilia will also be sale so as to defray expenses incurred. The local print, radio and TV media have also been invited to attend.