Irish-American activists will gather at Boston College today to protest against the awarding of an honorary degree to the leader of the UUP and First Minister Mr David Trimble.
Since Boston College announced that it would honour Mr Trimble, Irish-American organisations and individuals have been writing to the college president, Father William Leahy SJ, to condemn the award and urge him to rescind it.
Groups such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish Northern Aid Committee (Nor aid) and the Irish Unite Conference have been among the most active of the protesters. The groups accuse Mr Trimble of failing to implement the Belfast Agreement by insisting on decommissioning of IRA arms before Sinn Fein ministers are allowed join the proposed executive.
The college has refused to go back on its decision to honour Mr Trimble and has let it be known that his co-Nobel Prize winner, Mr John Hume, encouraged the university to make the award. Mr Hume, along with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and former President Mrs Mary Robinson, have also been awarded honorary degrees.