US civil rights campaigner Rev Jesse Jackson completed a two-day visit to the province.
Mr Jackson, who was with Martin Luther King when he was shot in 1968, fulfilled a series of engagements in Belfast and Londonderry over the course of the weekend.
On Saturday, the 69-year-old met a cross-section of victims of the Troubles as well as sparring with youngsters at the St George’s Boxing Club in Belfast.
Among the many relatives meeting the veteran campaigner at the Europa Hotel was Alan McBride, whose wife Sharon and father-in-law were among those killed in the Shankill Road bomb in 1993.
Speaking after the one-hour meeting with Mr Jackson, Mr McBride said the respected American was “interested” in the plight of local victims.
“He gave a talk referring to the biblical verse about the house built on sand and the house built on rock,” Mr McBride said.
“He went on to say when people are doing things that are not right, like slavery, such a society will not stand.”
Mr McBride, who was joined at the event by Raymond McCord and a brother of Pat Finucane among others, said those in attendance found the lecture interesting.
“Afterwards each of the families got to tell him their story and that was quite powerful as there was quite a mix of people in the room from all sides,” he said. “There were people whose loved ones were murdered by the republicans, loyalists and the state. I think the fact we were all there was in itself significant.”
Mr Jackson also referred to his non-profit rainbow coalition organisation, aimed at supporting people around the world who are either oppressed or suffering as a result of violence.
Mr McBride hailed the venture as an interesting concept due to its inclusivity.
Referring to failed attempts in Northern Ireland to meet the concerns of victims, he added: “It hasn’t been inclusive, it has been exclusive and working only for some people and not for others. I tried to stress to him (Jackson) the importance of coming up with a process which can work for the greater number of people.”
Mr Jackson took part in a question and answer session at Londonderry’s Guildhall yesterday.
Newsletter report, Monday 21 March