Tir,
The Provos had no mandate at all to take up arms. they took it on themselves.
Den,
The African American community in the Southern States were dominated by a wholly white and hostile police force and white National Guard and State Troopers were on call when needed. In almost every way their situation was worse than the Nationalists of NI.
There was no sense of a British Army of occupation before the "armed struggle" and the current withdrawal follows the cease fire that could have been called at long ago.
Epona,
The African Americans of the South were also on the receiving end of violence from elements in the white community. Their demonstrations also were often met with lethal violence from the KKK and other vigilante groups who were often in league with police and State Troopers.