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Viola Desmond: A Symbol of Strength and Courage

Keith Cox

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Viola Desmond, A Black Woman In A Fur Coat, Sitting In A Bus Seat Viola Desmond Won T Be Budged

Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged!

by Jody Nyasha Warner

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	17576 KB
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	32 pages

Viola Desmond was a Canadian civil rights activist who fought against racial discrimination. In 1946, she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Her case became a landmark case in the fight for civil rights in Canada.

Early Life and Education

Viola Desmond was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1914. Her parents were James Albert and Gwendolyn Irene Davis. Viola had two older brothers, James and Clifford.

Viola attended school in Halifax and graduated from high school in 1933. She then went on to study business at the Nova Scotia Business College. After graduating from business college, Viola worked as a beautician and ran her own beauty salon.

Civil Rights Activism

In 1946, Viola Desmond was traveling to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, to visit her mother. She boarded a bus in Halifax and sat in a seat in the "whites only" section. A white man asked her to move to the "colored" section, but she refused.

The bus driver called the police, and Viola was arrested. She was charged with violating the Jim Crow laws that were in place in Nova Scotia at the time.

Viola's case went to trial in 1947. She was found guilty and fined $20. Viola appealed her conviction, but the Nova Scotia Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision.

Viola's case became a landmark case in the fight for civil rights in Canada. It helped to raise awareness of the issue of racial discrimination and led to the eventual repeal of the Jim Crow laws.

Legacy

Viola Desmond died in 1965 at the age of 51. She is buried in Camp Hill Cemetery in Halifax.

Viola Desmond's legacy continues to inspire Canadians today. She is remembered as a symbol of strength and courage and as a pioneer in the fight for civil rights.

In 2010, the Government of Canada issued a stamp in honor of Viola Desmond. In 2016, she was named a Person of National Historic Significance by the Government of Canada.

Viola Desmond was a remarkable woman who made a significant contribution to the fight for civil rights in Canada. Her story is an inspiration to us all.

Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged!

by Jody Nyasha Warner

4.9 out of 5