On September 29th, 1845, a momentous meeting took place in Dublin between a 27-year-old American and a 70-year-old Irish man. The American had been born into hereditary enslavement but had self-emancipated seven years earlier. However, by the laws of his country, he was designated a “fugitive slave”. The Irish man had been born a second-class subject in his own country. During their long and eventful lives, both men would overcome prejudice and legal obstacles to fight for the civil rights of all people regardless of their colour, gender, ethnicity or religion. Almost 200 years later, their names are invoked as champions of peaceful political action that can lead to positive change.