[citation needed] In August 1969, during intensive rioting in his constituency, he tried, without success, to get the Royal Ulster Constabulary to withdraw the armoured cars and heavy machine guns they were using against the rioters.
In September 1969, Kennedy was the Falls Road Citizens Defence Committee's delegate in talks with James Callaghan.
[citation needed] In 1970, RLP leader Gerry Fitt left to help establish the Social Democratic and Labour Party.
The following year, he held a press conference in Belfast where he introduced Joe Cahill, a leading figure in the Provisional IRA, intending that this would show the ineffectiveness of internment.
While successful as a media event, appearing with the IRA led many constitutional nationalist politicians to refuse to work with him.