NORAID

Do you think that groups like NORAID should exist in the United States?  Why or why not?

  Irish Northern Aid, or NORAID, was developed in 1970 in New York City by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and other involved activists living in the United States.  Key members that spearheaded the creation of the group included Michael Flannery, Jack McCarthy, and John McGowan, but multiple other essential activists worked without the large-scale public recognition these leaders received.  NORAID generally aimed to assist defense committees within Northern Ireland, both financially as well as with propaganda to raise support for the Provisional Republican movements within the region.  It was seen as “the sole representative of the Provisional IRA in the United States” (Hanley 2).  The organization expanded in later years to include multiple regions across the country, such as Boston, Chicago, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and expanded influence in New York.  However, with growing influence yielded growing concern from the United States government.  NORAID was subject to extreme hostilities and accusations, principally because of their vocal support and questionable financial history with the controversial IRA.  

   Although NORAID carried out some questionable activities, it was operating within the natural rights protected by the American government.  A primary goal of NORAID was to raise funds which were used by the IRA to purchase weapons and carry out violent acts within Northern Ireland, but the Bill of Rights distinctly protects the right to freedom of speech and assembly while on American soil.  The Supreme Court case Buckley v. Valeo “is significant for having introduced the notion that spending money ... is a form of protected speech” (Jones).  So, therefore, raising funds on behalf of the IRA, even if they are used for violent actions, is protected under the First Amendment.  Additionally, NORAID was repeatedly subjected to “wiretapping, infiltration and raids on its offices” (Hanley 5).  These actions clearly violate the First Amendment right to assembly, as gatherings were peaceful and mainly consisted of public protests and pickets.  It can be argued that since NORAID was an organization created and supported by immigrants, they may not be subject to the same rights as full United States citizens.  However, because these actions occur within the United States, those carrying them out should be guaranteed equal rights and liberties as natural born citizens.

   In this regard, I believe that groups such as NORAID can and should exist because they are operating within their liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.  Unless a group is plotting illegal activities within U.S. borders, they are permitted to congregate and speak out for their cause.  Our Bill of Rights was designed to protect these fundamental individual rights, and silencing a group, however controversial, would directly contradict the principles in the First Amendment that have been guaranteed to us.

Sources Used

Hanley, Brian. “The Politics of NORAID.” Irish Political Studies, vol. 19, no. 1, 2004, pp. 1–17.

Jones, Clifford A. “Buckley v. Valeo.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 May 2015, www.britannica.com/event/Buckley-v-Valeo.