 Another group formed as a result of the events of 5 October was People 's Democracy , a group of students in Queen 's University Belfast . They organised a march from Belfast to Derry in support of civil rights , starting out with about forty young people on 1 January 1969 . The march met with violent opposition from loyalist counter @-@ demonstrators at several points along the route . Finally , at <unk> Bridge , five miles outside Derry , they were attacked by a mob of about two hundred wielding clubs — some of them studded with nails — and stones . Half of the attackers were later identified from press photographs as members of the B @-@ <unk> . The police , who were at the scene , <unk> to the B @-@ <unk> as they prepared their ambush , and then failed to protect the <unk> , many of whom ran into the river and were <unk> with stones from the bank . Dozens of <unk> were taken to hospital . The remainder continued on to Derry where they were attacked once more on their way to <unk> Bridge before they finally reached Guildhall Square , where they held a rally . <unk> broke out after the rally . Police drove <unk> into the <unk> , but did not come after them . In the early hours of the following morning , 5 January , members of the <unk> charged into St. <unk> 's Wells and <unk> Road in the <unk> , breaking windows and beating residents . In his report on the disturbances , Lord Cameron remarked that " for such conduct among members of a disciplined and well @-@ led force there can be no acceptable justification or excuse " and added that " its effect in <unk> <unk> and inspiring hostility towards the police was <unk> great . " 
