The Independent Citizens Movement (or Independent Citizens' Movement) is a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

in the

U.S. Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands, officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and a territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located ...

that was founded by Virdin C. Brown and Steve O'Reilly in 1968. Its symbol is the torch. The party advocates for grassroots participation in politics, as well as more autonomy for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Early history

The party had its first political candidates in 1968, and it ran candidates again in 1970. An advertisement in '' The Virgin Islands Daily News'' on June 24, 1970 listed Fabian Martinez as the party's president. The party's mission, according to a speech by Brown in 1969, is to "give the government back to the people through good, responsive, and responsible leadership." The party's platform was published in ''The Virgin Islands Daily News'' on October 26, 1974. The platform includes increasing the autonomy of the Virgin Islands and increased control over the territory's internal affairs, while still remaining a part of the United States. Party member Cyril E. King successfully ran for

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

in 1974. King was succeeded as governor in turn by his former ICM lieutenant governor,

Juan Francisco Luis Juan Francisco Luis (July 10, 1940 – June 4, 2011) was a Puerto Rican-U.S. Virgin Islander politician who served as the third elected List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands, Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, and the te ...

, who remained in office until 1987.

Recent history

From 1995 to 1997 Victor O. Frazer was Delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands as the party's candidate, although he served as an independent in the

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

. In the

United States Virgin Islands general election, 2014 The United States Virgin Islands general election was held on 4 November 2014. Voters chose the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives, all fifteen seats in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, and the Governor of ...

, the party won one out of 15 seats.

Electoral performance (2010–present)

References

1968 establishments in the United States Virgin Islands Political parties established in 1968 Political parties in the United States Virgin Islands {{caribbean-party-stub