(Canso, NS) -- NDP MLA Jim Boudreau was in attendance at Province House today as the late Viola Desmond received an apology from the Province of Nova Scotia and a Free Pardon from the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Mayann E. Francis. Given only under extraordinary circumstances, a Free Pardon is based on innocence and recognizes that a conviction was in error.

“It was a privilege to be in attendance today for this important moment in our province’s history,” said Boudreau. “Viola Desmond is a symbol of courage and her story should be known by all Nova Scotians.”

Viola Desmond of Halifax was an African Canadian wrongfully jailed and fined in 1946 for sitting in the white persons’ section of a New Glasgow movie theatre. Ms. Desmond passed away in 1965.

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For more information;

Mark Laventure
Media Relations Officer
NS NDP Caucus
O: (902) 424-6984
C: (902) 497-5953
laventma@gov.ns.ca