Ivan Cooper was born in Killaloo, Northern Ireland to a working class Protestant family. In 1968 Ivan was elected to Parliament where he served until 1983. Committed to non-violence, Ivan became a prominent leader in Northern Ireland's civil rights movement. Ivan believed that Protestant and Catholic should work together to demand equal rights in employment, housing, and voting. A speaker, participant, and organizer of many civil rights marches in the late 60s and early 70s, Ivan was one of the organizers of the march slated for 30 January 1972. The first march to be held on a Sunday, it was intended to shine the international spotlight on the plague of internment being levied exclusively against the Catholic community. The British Army opened fire on the march and fourteen men were killed and another fourteen people were seriously injured. In 2002 with the release of Paul Greengrass' film Bloody Sunday, Ivan came face to face with his past. Ivan felt responsible for the lives lost and shattered on that Sunday. His failure to prevent a massacre was now on screen for all to see. In viewing the film he was back on the streets of the Bogside re-living the horror. That summer Ivan met an American in Derry. For the next five years she was his companion. With Jennifer by his side Ivan talked about his past. Sharing his life with her, Ivan poured out his sorrow. Ivan & Me is based on those conversations.